Legend tells Italy manager Roberto Mancini he has got it all wrong with his treatment of West Ham star Gianluca Scamacca

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A legend has told Italy manager Roberto Mancini he has got it all wrong with his treatment of West Ham star Gianluca Scamacca.

It has been a difficult debut season for striker Gianluca Scamacca at West Ham and his issues have spilled over to the Italy team too.

David Moyes’ £35m summer signing has been an unused substitute in West Ham’s last four Premier League games.

Moyes has publicly criticised the striker’s output in training but flatly denied there has been a falling out between the pair when speaking before the international break.

Scamacca did start – and score – in the easy win over Larnaca in the Europa Conference League last time out.

But he was substituted after just 55 minutes sparking further criticism of Moyes, who had to defend his decision after the game.

Scamacca was billed as the future of the Italian national side by Roberto Mancini when he arrived at West Ham from Sassuolo in the summer.

But he was relegated to the bench by Argentinian forward Mateo Retegui – who only qualifies for Italy through the “Irish granny” rule.

Retegui plays his football in Mexico but started ahead of Scamacca and scored when Italy played England on Thursday night.

Scamacca got just a few minutes at the end of that 2-1 defeat and failed to touch the ball.

There was more misery for the West Ham star on Sunday night when Mancini made EIGHT changes to the Italy starting XI but he still remained on the bench, coming on as a sub for the last 25 minutes.

Retegui started in his place and scored again.

Mancini’s comments comparing Retegui with legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta are bad news for Scamacca’s long-term Italy hopes.

But now a legend has told Italy manager Mancini he has got it all wrong with his treatment of West Ham star Scamacca.

Former Inter Milan and Azzurri hero Beppe Bergomi says he is unsure about Retegui and insists West Ham star Scamacca is a better fit for Italy.

“He scored a goal [against Malta] and this is good,” the 1982 World Cup winner told Sky Sport Italia – as reported by Football Italia.

“However, considering his performance, I have to suspend the judgement.

“I believe Scamacca moves differently and in a better way.”

Mancini’s actions were strange considering he sent a clear message to Moyes over the Scamacca situation recently by telling the Scot the striker ‘cannot improve if he doesn’t play’.

The silver lining of Scamacca’s lack of action is that he returns to West Ham unscathed ahead of a hectic schedule which will see the club play nine high-pressure matches in 27 days in April.

Let’s hope he leaves Moyes and Mancini in no doubt he should be the main man up front in what remains of the season.

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