Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca, at just 24 years old, is on the cusp of a breakthrough season that could define his career. In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the towering forward opened up about his journey, ambitions, and the pivotal role this campaign plays in his development.
Lucca’s career has been anything but conventional. From his early days at Torino’s youth academy to playing in Serie D as a teenager, then quickly progressing through Serie C and B before a stint abroad with Ajax, he has experienced a whirlwind of changes in just three years. Now back in Italy with Udinese since July 2023, Lucca feels he has found stability and is poised for success.
“If I look at my matches from four years ago and compare them to today’s, I see a completely different player,” Lucca reflects. “Before, I would ‘lose myself’ during the game, disconnecting mentally and failing to convert good chances. Now, I’m much more focused, attentive, and engaged from the first to the last minute.”
The striker acknowledges the unique challenges of playing for Udinese compared to top clubs: “I’m aware that at Udinese, it’s not like at Inter, Juventus, or Milan. I won’t have many goal-scoring opportunities; there might be just one, and I need to know how to take advantage of it to make a difference.”
Lucca’s improvement extends beyond mental aspects. Standing at 201 centimeters tall, he has worked diligently to enhance his aerial ability, already netting two headers this season. “I have a personal trainer with whom I work every day, before or after team training. We focus on strength and mobility exercises. As we approach match day, I practice game situations, including crosses from the wings, and study videos of my teammates to note where they most often place the ball in the box. I pay attention to details, which allows me to add something new to my repertoire with each game.”
The young forward is aware of the competition he faces for a spot in the national team, particularly from established strikers like Scamacca and Retegui. However, he remains confident in his unique attributes: “I don’t think I’m a rare gem, but it’s true that compared to others, I have a particular physique and special technical and aerial game qualities. I’m convinced I can do great things, but I see a lot of competition in my role. At the moment, they’re ahead of me, but I think it’s just a matter of time and hard work for me.”
Lucca’s ambitions extend beyond club football. He revealed a conversation with former great Luca Toni: “I spoke with him a month and a half ago. He told me to get a move on because, according to him, I’m the ideal striker for Spalletti’s national team.”
As he continues to develop, Lucca is focusing on specific areas of improvement. “To become a consistent double-digit goalscorer, I need to work on my left foot, which I’m putting a lot of effort into. And I need to use my body even better, positioning it between the defender and the ball to shield it.”
With seven goals already this season and his sights set on reaching double figures for the first time in his career, Lucca is aware of the importance of this campaign. “I think this is a fundamental year for me,” he states. “I’ve reached this level later than some – and it was my fault: no one believes in you more than yourself, and if you really want something, be sure you’ll get it – but it was destiny, and I don’t regret the choices I’ve made.”