It is said a football player reaches full maturity around 28 years old. Until that moment, he can show his talent, his aptitudes and at the same time he can't keep up with his potentiality. Many elements can influence in his career. An injury, poor confidence from own coaches, strategies that don't enhance own characteristics, no affinity with supporters, no incentive to personal improvement. Goodness knows what happened to Graziano Pellè, Italian striker who plays for Feyenoord.

 

He was born 28 years ago in San Cesario di Lecce, a small town in the "heel" of the Italian "boot". That is a land of sun, sea and wind. Nothing to do with the maritime climate of South Holland. But the breeze of North Sea welcomed him in the best possible way. And now Graziano Pellè is "the hero of Rotterdam".

In his early career in Serie B (Lecce, Catania, Cesena, Crotone), his personal top scoring was 10 goals with Cesena. In Eredivisie, he already played for AZ Alkmaar, scoring 14 goals in 78 matches (2007-2011). In Serie A (Parma and Sampdoria) he played a fistful of matches, scoring totally 5 goals. Since August 2012, Pellè sprouted, scored 37 goals in 38 matches. He became the captain of Feyenoord. Ronald Koeman, manager of The Stadiumclub, dotes on Italian striker and wants to keep him  to himself.

Between Feyenoord supporters, "you can see more and more men with a retro hair look. The latest fashion is called «the schoolboy separation», the style of Graziano Pellè. Even some celebrities have fallen for the so-called separation school boy".  On Youtube, you can find some tutorials to have his hair cut. Any sunday, on twitter, the hash tag trend is: #SundayIsPelleDay. The Italian Stallion appeared also in a commercial outside for Eredivisie Live.

Gerardo Martino, Barcelona's coach, is looking for a classic forward. Pellè seems to be one of candidates along with Miro Klose, Roque Santa Cruz, David Trezeguet, Óscar Cardozo. They are more experienced, but they aren't as young as the Italian striker. Pellè can be a long term investment for Blaugrana.    

In the meantime, Italian media wonder: Will Cesare Prandelli call him for Brazil's World Cup? Pellè already represented the Azzurri at U20 and U21 level. He has no experience with First National Team. But his characteristics remembers Luca Toni's one, world champion in Germany 2006. Toni is another football player who had his best season in the second part of his career. Because, sometimes we have to let time run its course.

Thanks to our reviewer Noemi Stacconi