Gianluca Scamacca, the Italian striker who made a high-profile move from West Ham United to Atalanta over the summer, has made a sensational debut start for his new club, making his mark with a remarkable performance, writes the HammerNews.
Last month, West Ham completed the sale of Scamacca to Atalanta for a transfer fee reported to be around £27 million, which included potential add-ons. The 24-year-old forward had joined the Hammers just last summer, but his brief stint in the Premier League under the management of David Moyes did not yield the desired results.
It’s widely acknowledged that Scamacca’s style of play didn’t quite align with the tactical system employed by Moyes and the demands of Premier League football. Nonetheless, there is a consensus that the Italian possesses significant talent, making his underwhelming spell at the London Stadium all the more regrettable.
Scamacca marked his return to the starting lineup with Atalanta in style, earning a place in Gasperini’s XI for the first time since leaving West Ham. In an impressive display, Atalanta secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Monza, which also propelled them to third place in the Serie A standings.
Scamacca showcased his goal-scoring prowess by netting twice for his new club during the match. His contributions on the field were instrumental in securing Atalanta’s victory. Remarkably, he came agonizingly close to achieving a hat-trick, but his third goal was disallowed following a VAR review.
The Italian striker’s outstanding performance in his first start for Atalanta underscores the potential that West Ham may have missed out on. As Scamacca continues to adapt and thrive in his new environment, it raises questions about how he could have fared with the Hammers had circumstances been different.
While West Ham moves forward with its current squad, Scamacca’s successful debut for Atalanta serves as a reminder of the untapped talent that briefly graced the Premier League, leaving fans to ponder what might have been.