It has been a positive spell for Federico Gatti, who recently found the net in back-to-back fixtures against Galatasaray and Roma. His father, Ludovico Gatti, spoke openly to Tuttosport about his son’s current form, ambitions, and deep bond with Juventus.
“Beyond Federico’s goal, I’m happy because Juventus deserved the draw,” Ludovico explained. “I’ve heard many compliments for Roma, but I saw a Juve that did great things. Unfortunately, at the moment, others are getting a lot from very little.”
“He’s Been Unlucky”
Reflecting on his son’s recent challenges, Gatti’s father said: “My son has had quite an unlucky year. Last season, he paid for the injury he suffered in the spring, which affected him during Tudor’s management. This year, he’s still been dealing with the after-effects of that problem. Then a bad flu hit him in November, right when Spalletti arrived, and later came the meniscus issue. The manager rightly had to find other solutions.”
“Now, he’s frustrated because he wants to play more—but that’s normal,” he continued. “It’s good that he doesn’t accept his situation; professionals should always aim for the top. He doesn’t care much about having a good contract—what he wants are the rewards that come from being on the pitch. He’ll fight to win his place back.”
A Lesson from Rugani
When asked about rumours of a possible departure, Ludovico was clear: “No, he feels Juventus inside and doesn’t want to leave. Unless they decide to move him on, he’s very attached to the club. He just needs to be ready when called upon. In that sense, he should take inspiration from someone like Rugani—an excellent example. Whenever Rugani was needed, he was always ready. That’s the mentality you need in a big club.”
The Goal-Scoring Defender
The elder Gatti also commented on the jokes about seeing his son play as a striker after the Roma match. “I think he was only joking,” he laughed. “But he’s always had a good sense of positioning. When he was young at Torino, he had a natural instinct for goal, though he gradually moved further back. His youth coach, Andrea Menghini, chose to use him behind the forwards. Now Federico is very good at taking chances in the box, but he can still improve—he should look to top defenders in England for inspiration.”
“A Talented Juventus”
Regarding the idea of Juventus being a ‘hard-working’ team, Ludovico offered a different perspective. “I don’t quite agree with the idea of a workmanlike Juve that never gives up,” he said. “They come back in matches because they have real talent—so much quality that can emerge at any time. They have the strength to turn any game around.”
“The team gave me great joy in the Champions League, not only Federico,” he continued. “They really entertained me last Wednesday—they absolutely deserved to go through. I saw a great spirit out there. I only regret Osimhen’s goal; Federico was involved in the play because he went in for a sliding tackle. Maybe if he’d held off a little… but with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ you get nowhere. He was also very tired. He could have been pleased with his game against Galatasaray, but instead he was very disappointed. Against Roma, it was a bit of luck—he simply finished the comeback. He thought he was offside, but it all turned out well.”
