West Ham United star Gianluca Scamacca might be linked with a return to Italy, but some don’t believe he will be leaving the club anytime soon.
That’s according to Emiliano Leva, the man who discovered the striker’s potential when training him at Lazio’s academy over a decade ago.
The coach was interviewed today by Sport Italia, and despite the questions about his potential exit from West Ham, he encouraged the player to continue doing his best at the club.
First speaking of Scamacca’s first season with the Hammers, the coach claimed he’s been showing his attributes.
“Gianluca fully embraced the West Ham project, as he has always done in all the other teams he has played for,” Emiliano Leva told Sport Italia.
“He got off to a good start, scoring excellent goals: as you will have seen too, he’s a striker who knows how to score from any position. I know that in this last period he’s had a physical problem which has kept him on the sidelines, but he seems to be recovering.”
The outlet mentions that Scamacca has recently been linked to the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus, despite his move to the Hammers having happened at the start of the season, and asked Leva what he thinks of those rumours.
“Even a year ago, his name was linked with these teams and more. Gianluca is a top-tier centre-forward, it’s no coincidence that he has been with the national team for some time. I can certainly tell you that he has all the potential to make the leap into a big one. Inzaghi already knows him well from the time when I coached him at Lazio, he often came to watch the youth games.”
Asked if he’d see Scamacca ‘better’ at Inter Milan than Juventus, Leva continued trying not to say much about that, claiming the striker should stay at West Ham.
“I can’t say where I would see him best, they are complex discussions that involve the interlocking of many factors. I repeat that the only thing I am certain of is that Gianluca is ready to make this possible leap, but you will see that in the meantime he will return to being the protagonist with West Ham.”
Scamacca was signed by West Ham on a €36m deal from Sassuolo last summer. So far, he has eight goals in 27 appearances for the club, where he’s well protected with a contract until 2027.
