An impressive start to the season has earned the Granata striker a place in the Azzurri squad, where he will be united with his former mentor at club level.
Andrea Belotti has been in prolific form for Torino at the start of the 2016-17 Serie A season, and he has been rewarded with a call-up for Italy’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Macedonia by Giampiero Ventura.
The Azzurri tactician coached the 22-year-old last season at Torino and it is their previous experience together that could bring the best out of the starlet. They will also be joined by Ciro Immobile, who is now playing at Lazio but played in two stints for the Granata under Ventura and formed an attacking duo with Belotti in the second part of the 2015-16 campaign.
Belotti and Ventura first worked together at Il Toro after the attacker arrived from Palermo in the summer of 2015.
The presence of Franco Vazquez and Paulo Dybala in the Rosanero attack meant that playing time for Belotti was limited but he had developed a reputation for being a super-sub in his two seasons with the Sicilian side and made the move up north for €7.5 million.
Goals were hard to come by in his first few months with the Granata though as he failed to develop a partnership with Fabio Quagliarella up front.
Despite his lack of form, Ventura stuck with him. In January this year Quagliarella left for Sampdoria while Immobile arrived from Spanish club Sevilla and it was beneficial in Belotti’s development.
Neither were opportunists who would play off the last man and just try and spring the offside trap. Instead, Belotti and Immobile provided movement and they weren’t afraid to drop deep or drift to the wings to receive the ball.
Before Immobile’s arrival the former Palermo striker had scored just one goal for Torino, but after the winter break in 2015-16, he netted 11 times. Meanwhile Immobile also performed admirably, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 14 matches.
This season Il Gallo – The Rooster – does not have the support of Immobile in the Toro frontline but the starlet has become the focal point of a trident attack also consisting of Iago Falque and Lucas Boye.
He has scored five goals in as many Serie A games in addition to providing two assists but he could have scored more if he had converted penalties against AC Milan and Bologna.
After making his debut against France in the previous international break, Belotti has earned another call-up to the national team from Ventura and he will also be reunited with Immobile, who has scored four goals in seven matches so far this campaign for Lazio.
Graziano Pelle and Eder are expected to start against Spain on Thursday evening but a potential Belotti-Immobile partnership could feature against Macedonia.
“They can play together because they have already done it before,” Ventura said in his press conference on Monday. They will surely play in one of the two games.”
Belotti is already familiar with the 3-5-2 formation that Ventura uses and potentially getting support from Immobile could make the transition from club to international football smoother.
After taking a while to develop his prolificacy, Il Gallo looks set to be integrated into the Italy squad thanks to the guidance of his former coach at Torino and now he has the opportunity to display his finishing skills at international level.
