Patrick Cutrone attends the AS video call from his new home in Valencia, the third to live in three different countries in two months after passing through Florence and Wolverhampton. He does it dressed in Valencia training clothes, giving his reflections a corporatist touch that highlights his involvement. He speaks slowly, attends in Spanish and explains himself in Italian. Look to the past with a learning perspective and to the future, with the expectation of taking root in Mestalla.
How about your adaptation?
They have welcomed me great. I found a strong, united group with many high-quality players. Love it. This week I had a slight physical problem, it only lasted one day. I hope to play in Madrid. It will be a great duel. I played once against Madrid with Milan. It was a friendly and you could see its size. Now I think game by game, I hope to do well to continue here.
So, although his loan is only until June, he is open to the idea of staying in Valencia …
Of course, it is my goal. I want to do well in the field to stay, is what I want. As soon as I heard about the interest, I said yes. Nuno also spoke to me great about the club. I know the importance of Valencia, its history. For different reasons I changed teams several times. I want to give Valencia the confidence it gave me, earn my continuity. I am happy. I will give everything to stay here.
In 2018 he scored 18 goals for Milan, his best year. What happened after?
The most important thing for a forward is to have continuity on the field. In the last two years, much to my regret, I haven't had it. Luckily I am young and I can improve a lot. I need to feel confident. Montella and Gattuso bet on me even though I came from the Primavera team, that made me feel so good at that time. I know that the real Cutrone is that one, the one with the 18 goals in Milan: I will prove it.
“I want to earn my continuity at Valencia, I will give everything to continue”
It is said that if a striker has a figure of seven or eight goals per season, it is very difficult for him to suddenly reach 20 in a year; but also that when one has already been close to 20, sooner or later one can repeat …
I still have a lot to learn, but obviously my goal is to score a lot of goals. I know I can do it because I already have. It is a matter of trust and continuity. I hope to get it here, at Valencia.
In Italy they compared him with Inzaghi and in Valencia the figure of Simone Zaza is remembered after his arrival.
Being compared to Inzagui can only be an honor. Being a Milanese, I watched the videos of Inzaghi, Shevchenko, Van Basten for a long time … Other references? Drogba and Van Persie and right now I love Lewandowski. I know that Zaza won the affection of the people of Valencia, whom I hope to see soon in Mestalla.
“Montella and Gattuso bet on me, they gave me the confidence a forward needs”
In his debut he acted behind Maxi. Can you see it there?
I think we will alternate. I am a center forward. With two tips, one will help the team and another will attack the space.
Do you see many differences between LaLiga, Premier and Serie A?
Yes, of course there are. But I am excited about LaLiga because I see it more similar to the Calcio style.
Do you have the dedication for your first goal ready?
Always for my familyhe kisses a tattoo that wears on his right hand every time he scores a goal), my girlfriend and the people who love and support me.
Prandelli, Nuno and Gracia: three models in three different countries
Patrick Cutrone is possibly the only footballer in history to have played in Serie A, the Premier League and LaLiga in the same season. The Italian, who made his debut in Spain in San Mamés, arrived at Valencia on the horn of the January market after having played in the Fiorentina (13 games) and Wolverhampton (2 FA Cup games). Cutrone, who was one of the first players to become infected with covid-19, is one of the beneficiaries of FIFA Circular 1720, which allowed in an extraordinary way due to the pandemic that during the end of last year and this season a player was registered by three clubs.
Cutrone arrives at Mestalla aspiring to be who he was at Milan, where signed 27 goals in 90 games and that led to the selection. “It would be wonderful to return with Italy … but match by match,” he emphasizes. His explosion in the club of his life (he arrived at the age of 8) led Wolverhampton to pay 28 million for him. But in England he lacked continuity and returned to Italy on loan for a season and a half.
In Florence, with Giuseppe Iachini, he had a leading role until the pandemic altered everything. Later, with Cesare Prandelli, a clause of his contract played against him. Fiorentina would have to own it for 20 million, an amount that it did not have, if Cutrone played a quota of matches and stopped doing so. Nuno played him back in January after Raúl Jiménez's injury. But the signing of Willian José opened the door for him again. So he ended up with Javi Gracia, his third coach, his third training model and country in just two months.