Giacomo Raspadori reveals his boyhood club, idol & dream 5-a-side team

Very few football fans outside of Italy had heard the name Giacomo Raspadori prior to his surprise call-up to Gli Azzurri's Euro 2020 squad, but he's now one of the hottest names at the tournament.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season with Sassuolo during the 2020/21 campaign, and his standout performances have caused him to be tipped for a big summer transfer, as well as earning international recognition.

Raspadori made his Italy debut in the pre-Euro 2020 friendly against Czech Republic, and then came on a substitute in the 1-0 victory over Wales. He's the talk of the tournament, and so the Italian national team decided to put him in front of the camera to answer some big questions.

But what did 90min's Our 21 star have to say?

Past inspiration

"A player from the past (that Raspadori is similar too), he has just stopped now, and so I'd probably say Carlos Tevez."

Childhood Idol & Boyhood club

"My first idol was Samuel Eto'o, because I was an Inter fan as a child. He was the first one I fell in love with because of the way he was on the pitch, not just for his style of play but he was also a silent leader."

That news won't silence rumours of a potential move to Inter this summer...

Nickname?

"No, just Jack, Raspa or Raspino." Just the three, then.

Childhood dreams

"It was always my dream [to play football]. I was lucky and I was good at believing that I'd get there.

"I remember, or as my family always tells me anyway, that when I was little, maybe four or five years old, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and that [a footballer] was always my answer."

Paulo Rossi & Salvatore Schillaci comparisons

"It's a great source of pride when you are compared to players who have made Italian history - really strong players so it makes you happy.

"You must be good at handling pressure and in handling things correctly and always be wanting to improve, not thinking that comparisons is what got you here."

Italy legends 5-a-side

"Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Fabio Cannavaro at the back. In the middle I'd choose Andrea Pirlo and now Manuel Locatelli, and Luca Toni up front." You can tell he's a Sassuolo teammate of Locatelli's, can't you?