Graziano Pellè revealed the prank he played on Louis van Gaal, growing up watching Marco van Basten and his dancing career.
The Southampton striker gave an interview with the official Vivo Azzurro YouTube channel after his debut senior Italy call-up.
Graziano Pellè revealed the prank he played on Louis van Gaal, growing up watching Marco van Basten and his dancing career.
The Southampton striker gave an interview with the official Vivo Azzurro YouTube channel after his debut senior Italy call-up.
“Defining features? I bite my nails due to the stress, both before and after games,” he revealed.
“My first month in Southampton wasn’t easy, even though I am a positive guy and don’t tend to feel too homesick, but with a few goals under my belt it got easier.”
Pellè made his name in Holland with AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, so is no stranger to being away from Italy.
“Alkmaar is a small town where they have a cheese festival, nice canals, it’s a good place to live. Rotterdam is rebuilding, though you can still see how much it was damaged after World War II, but it’s a lovely city with a huge port. You can see this distinction between the old and new areas.
“Southampton is also by the sea. I just got there, so I still need to have a look round. I’ve got time.”
He earned the nickname ‘The Italian Stallion’ while in Holland.
“I think it was because of all the goals, though I didn’t get into detail! The Coach and staff had faith in me and I repaid them with goals, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to deliver.”
Pellè had a fascinating anecdote about the time he signed for AZ Alkmaar with Coach van Gaal, who is now on the Manchester United bench.
“We were talking about the shirt number and I like Number 9 because it’s the classic one of the striker. We went through the possible numbers, like 19, 90 or 99, but I didn’t want those high numbers.
“Eventually I jokingly said in that case I’m not signing for the club. He was so severe and was absolutely furious, jumped up and asked my agent how I could possibly do such a thing.
“I told him sorry, I was joking! He’s a great Coach, though.”
Pellè also made a bet with his Under-21 international teammates Riccardo Montolivo and Giorgio Chiellini that he’d score a chipped penalty at the 2007 European Championships, taking inspiration from Francesco Totti’s at Euro 2000 against Holland.
His father inspired him to become a player and was in Serie C, so as a little boy he grew up watching tapes of stars like Van Basten, the Brazilian Ronaldo and others of that era.
As former Lecce director Pantaleo Corvino revealed today, young Pellè almost didn’t become a football player at all, as he was torn between that and his passion for dancing.
“My mother loved dancing, my sister was three years older and already competing, but it was a sport you practice in pairs. To keep my mother happy, I went into competitions with my sister, but I had to wear stacked shoes because she was so much taller than me!
“When the call came from Lecce at a more professional level, I chose football and my mother understood.”