Conte reveals role Italy international ‘can’t play’ at Napoli | OneFootball

Antonio Conte insists Giacomo Raspadori can play several roles in attack except for winger: ‘Every coach should respect the players’ characteristics.’

Raspadori started Napoli’s last two games, scoring a goal in each match, but the Partenopei could only grab one point against Lazio and Como.

“Jack can play as a second striker, an attacking midfielder, or even an offensive central midfielder,” Conte said at a pre-match press conference on the eve of a Serie A game against Inter.

Conte reveals role Raspadori ‘can’t play’ at Napoli

NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Antonio Conte Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“He’s the most technically gifted of the three midfielders, with a playmaker, a box-to-box player, and one in between.

“He can play as a mezzala [box-to-box] because he covers more than 12 km per game. He is not a winger, putting him there would make him struggle. Every coach should respect the players’ characteristics.

“You can’t just give him a token role to get him on the pitch if it hurts the team. Jack has great quality. In a 4-3-3, for me, he is the alternative to McTominay or Anguissa, to add quality to the game and have someone with a natural instinct for scoring.”

A recent report from Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Raspadori would surely be called up by Italy coach Luciano Spalletti for Nations League games against Germany in March.

Click here to read all of Conte’s quotes during today’s press conference.