Mateo Pellegrino’s first weeks in Florence have given Fiorentina a new reference point at centre-forward, just as the club tries to move beyond a difficult spell and settle under Paolo Vanoli. The Argentine struck again in the Coppa Italia win over Pisa, then celebrated with the supporters who are quickly warming to their 192cm new No. 9.
Mateo Pellegrino gives Fiorentina a new focal point
SEO Title: Mateo Pellegrino’s early Fiorentina impact before Napoli
SEO Description: Mateo Pellegrino has scored in each of his last three Fiorentina matches, with Napoli next after the Coppa Italia victory over Pisa.
After Fiorentina’s second goal against Pisa, Pellegrino first shouted “Vamos!” while embracing Njie and Gnonto, the two players involved in the move, before turning towards the stands for a second celebration. It was an uncomplicated moment, but one that captured the connection developing between player and club.
Signed to take the place left by Moise Kean, Pellegrino has found the net in each of Fiorentina’s last three outings, having featured in five matches for the Viola. Even Gabriel Batistuta did not reach that number in his first Fiorentina season, when the Argentine great scored twice.
The 24-year-old will now face Napoli on Sunday with his place in the side increasingly difficult to question. His most recent contribution came as Fiorentina defeated Pisa and reached the Coppa Italia round of 16.
From long-standing interest to a major commitment
- Fabio Paratici had identified Pellegrino as a player of interest during his time at Juventus, although a deal did not materialise then.
- The sporting director continued to monitor him after Federico Cherubini, his former Juventus colleague and friend, brought the forward to Parma in Serie A.
- Fiorentina’s opening came when Roberto Piccoli moved to Bologna and Kean departed for Como.
- The Viola agreed a package worth €22.5 million, plus up to €2.5 million in bonuses, and handed Pellegrino a five-year contract.
The scale of that investment underlined Fiorentina’s belief that Pellegrino could become more than a temporary replacement. So far, his goals have supported that judgement.
He also arrives with a strong footballing background. His father, Mauricio Pellegrino, played as a defender for Velez, Barcelona, Valencia and Liverpool, and later worked as Rafael Benitez’s assistant at Inter in 2010.
Vanoli’s selection question before the break
Vanoli inherited the Fiorentina bench from Fabio Grosso and initially selected Beto at centre-forward for the trip to Venezia. Pellegrino came off the bench in that match, scoring Fiorentina’s final goal after Mastantuono had produced a hat-trick.
That finish, like his goals against Torino and Pisa, came with his left foot. Pellegrino has shown the instincts of a penalty-box striker, arriving where the opportunity develops rather than drifting away from the decisive areas.
His most established strength from his Parma period, however, has not yet been fully seen in Florence: his ability in the air. The forward had become an automatic choice through the middle at Parma partly because of his heading.
For Vanoli, the immediate question is how to provide him with the most consistent service. One possible adjustment would be to switch the wide players, moving Mastantuono to the left and Njie to the right, with the aim of improving the supply into the central striker.
That change is not expected for Napoli. The subsequent extended international break will instead give the coach time to assess different combinations and work on alternatives with the players who remain at the club.
A promise still to be kept
Speaking after Tuesday’s cup success, Pellegrino said: “I try to leave everything on the pitch. We want to put the dark period behind us, but we have to keep working. There is still room to improve, retain the ball more effectively and take further steps forward.”
There is also a lighter obligation awaiting him. After the win in Venezia, Pellegrino promised the squad a barbecue. With several teammates soon leaving Florence for international duty, the new striker may need to organise it quickly.
