UDINE, Italy, March 24, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Teenage star Moise Kean said
Saturday that he had learned from Juventus teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after
scoring his first goal for Italy in what he hopes will be a record-breaking
career.
The 19-year-old forward was the first player born in the 21st century to
score for the senior team, with the second goal on 74 minutes in a 2-0 Euro
2020 qualifying Group J win over Finland in Udine.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini chose Kean to replace the injured Federico
Chiesa in a three-pronged attack along with Juventus teammate Federico
Bernardeschi and Ciro Immobile.
“I learn from Cristiano Ronaldo, in training, I steal his secrets,” said
Keane, who was born in Vercelli, a town between Milan and Turin, to Ivorian
parents.
“I always try to be ready and train regularly so that I’m prepared when the
time comes.
“This is a beautiful evening, but I know that I still have so many records
to beat and I intend to beat them.
“When I got the call, I was fired up, excited, eager to show what I could
do. Ciro (Immobile) gave me a great assist and it’s thanks to him and the
whole team that I was able to score.”
The first player born this century to start in Serie A, the first to score
in the Italian top flight, and the first to make his debut with the Under 21
team, Kean was also the first to play with the senior national team in a
friendly match and now a competitive game on Saturday.
Kean, who was born in February 2000, had previously been chosen by Mancini
in a friendly against the United States last November, coming on as a second-
half substitute.
His goal against Finland made him the second youngest Italian to score for
the national side after former Juventus player Bruno Nicole in 1958 against
France, aged 18 years and 258 days.
“He has great qualities, but it’s all up to him — the margins for
improvement are enormous,” said Mancini.
“It is not difficult to bet on players like Kean or Zaniolo, they are good
and it shows.”
Roma midfielder Zaniolo, also 19, made his senior competitive debut late in
the second half.
Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella, 22, had opened the scoring after seven
minutes in the town in north-eastern Italy on the border with Slovenia.
“We have a lot of work to do,” added Mancini, who was appointed last May
after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. “We need to keep
working, aware that every match is difficult.”
Italy play their second Euro 2020 qualifier against Liechtenstein in Parma
on Tuesday.