Lorenzo Lucca may be struggling with the environment and the new language at Nottingham Forest.
That’s according to sporting director Carlo Jacomuzzi, via Calcio Napoli 24. He has defended the Nottingham Forest signing following a tough start to life at the City Ground.
The Italian striker joined Nottingham Forest on loan towards the end of January. Forest paid €2m to sign him and have an option to buy him permanently too.
He arrived after something of a difficult time at Napili. He joined them on loan from Udinese in the summer, before the Italian champions paid €26m to sign him permanently on January 22nd. Nottingham Forest signed him on loan a day later.
Napoli difficulties
That was due to a difficult period with Napoli, where he managed two goals in 23 games and just 295 minutes of football under Antonio Conte. Sport Witness have already covered reports that they are keen to make the loan exit permanent.
That will be dependent on Lucca shining in England. So far, it’s been a mixed bag. He has one goal in two games and 107 minutes to date. But finds himself in the middle of their turmoil as Vitor Pereira arrives this week as their fourth manager of the season.
Lucca now needs to convince another man from the one who signed him. And Jacomuzzi has urged for him to be given time.
“Lorenzo Lucca needs time at Nottingham Forest,” he said.
“Maybe he had some problems with the environment or the language. It’s always difficult to move to foreign leagues.”
Italy is watching Nottingham Forest
Jacomuzzi seems to be on a different wavelength to everyone else when it comes to Lucca at this moment in time.
While he has urged patience, Sport Witness have reported on comments from Udinese sporting director Gianluca Nani backing him to succeed in the Premier League.
There’s also been a growing frustration about the move to Nottingham Forest in the first place. That’s seen Lucca labelled as an “icon” at the City Ground already. That, though, was more Italian dramatics than anything else.
The reality is that the pressure is on Lucca at Nottingham Forest, and everyone in Italy seems to be watching.