“It was a great feeling, but scoring in training against the senior side did not make me want to celebrate. I have too much respect for the shirt.” This statement tells you everything you need to know about the character of Gianmarco Cangiano, who scored in an Azzurri shirt for the first time at Coverciano yesterday. A mild-mannered but determined young man, who yesterday showed all his desire to do well, so much so that he helped the U20s to a symbolic victory, in their sparring match with the members of the senior squad who had not played in their friendly against the Czech Republic. “I took my goal well - said the youngster - but it was with my weaker left foot, so when I saw the ball go past Meret I was shocked!”

Gianmarco started kicking a ball aged 4 with his father, Salvatore, also a midfielder, who played for various Serie C teams. Born in Naples in 2001 and still yet to turn 20, he came through the ranks at Roma before playing for their Primavera side. He was then sold to Bologna where Mihajlovic, last year, handed him his Serie A debut: “He is a top coach, who really believes in young players. He has shown a lot of faith in me and made me grow as a player and as a person.” Having been loaned to Ascoli, where he played 25 times and scored once, he will be back to Bologna this coming year to continue his journey in the top division.

Similarly, his career with the Azzurri started from the youth ranks. In the U18s, under the guidance of Coach Daniele Franceschini, he made his official debut, before getting into Alberto Bollini’s U19 squad for their Euros qualifiers. Those games were then not played, due to the pandemic. “The Azzurri shirt, for me, represents joy and a dream and so every time I don the shirt, I give my all to honour it.”

Gianmarco is commenting from the bus that is headed towards San Marino where, this evening at Serravalle, the Italy U20s will play a friendly match: “It will be a very useful experience that will put some minutes in the tank for the squad and will help us to build chemistry ahead of our next challenges.” He has high hopes in the game, to which he has given his whole, young life: “I want to do my best with my club and hope to continue to be called up for my country - says a smiling Gianmarco - and, one day, I will score a winning goal for the Azzurri rather than against them like yesterday, even if it was only in training.”