Young David only needed a simple sling to defeat the giant Goliath, a biblical tale symbolising hope and the idea that even seemingly unbeatable opponents can be overcome. Another David is now winning his own ‘impossible’ challenge, showing that a midfielder can score as much, or even more, than a forward. Today, with 7 goals (8 total for the national team), Davide Frattesi stands as the top scorer of the Spalletti era. It raises the question: was it really a good idea to convince that young Lazio youth striker to drop deeper?

"I didn’t take the transition from forward to midfielder well,’ he shared in an interview with Vivo Azzurro TV during the national team’s latest camp. ‘My coach was Franceschini, and when he moved me to mezzala, I remember wanting to walk out of training. But now, I’ll never stop thanking him".

THE FAMILY. Speaking of gratitude, the first on his list are mum and dad: "Looking back, I see my parents' sacrifices even more than my own. I have two siblings, and they went above and beyond to let us pursue what we enjoyed. I also played tennis, so I was busy every day, including Saturdays and Sundays". Mum Sonia is still his biggest fan: "She follows me everywhere, but if there isn’t a gym nearby where I play, it's an issue because she’s a real fitness enthusiast." His grandmother, on the other hand, is the family mascot: "We always try to include her in everything we do, especially since we lost grandad."

THE SECRET IS HUNGER. Speed and intensity, combined with an extraordinary ability to make runs into the box, make Frattesi the box-to-box midfielder that Italians now often call a “tuttocampista.” He believes his secret has always been that hunger: even without boundless talent, you can reach any goal through hard work and determination. After progressing through nearly all the youth national teams, he made his senior debut in June 2022 under Roberto Mancini. As a child, playing for the national team felt like a dream, something exceptional. Now, he’s there trying to bring joy to those kids who were once like him. Although they haven’t succeeded lately, they’re working hard to deliver that happiness.

Since Luciano Spalletti took over as head coach of the national team, he has rarely been without Frattesi, who is, not coincidentally, the leader in appearances (17) in the new Azzurri era. "I jokingly say that my relationship with the coach is one of love and hate. The first time I was in camp, he told me, ‘I have great respect for you, but you’ll be the player I annoy the most.’ If a coach is on your back, it means he wants to help you improve, and I’ve improved with him"

TENNIS, FISHING, AND LEGO. Football isn’t the only passion in Davide’s life; off the pitch, he enjoys tennis, fishing, and building with Lego: "I have a nice collection; there’s always a Lego set to assemble on the kitchen table. I prefer watching tennis over football on TV, and in the summer, I enjoy going fishing. It’s nice to spend three or four hours on my own; it’s a great way to relieve stress and disconnect from everything and everyone".