Destiny Udogie is a standout left-back for Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur, but he could be asked to play a completely other position for Italy manager Luciano Spalletti.
When Ange Postecoglou took over as Tottenham Hotspur manager in the summer, there were understandable concerns in certain quarters about what this meant for a player who had come under the Italian but now had to win over an Australian.
After all, Destiny Udogie had made his name as a wing-back at Udinese. He appeared to be ideal for Conte’s 3-4-3 formation. But perhaps not Postecoglou’s favoured back-four formation.
However, the Italian’s superb performances in the early weeks of the new season have gone a long way towards dispelling those misgivings, with Fabio Paratici’s £17 million acquisition proving that he is more than a one-trick – or one-position – pony.
Destiny Udogie of Tottenham Hotspur is set to make his Italy debut.
Spalletti, on the other hand, is eager to put Udogie’s versatility to the test.
“There are those (in our squad) who can cover multiple roles,” Spalletti, a former Inter Milan, Roma, and Napoli coach, told Tuttomercatoweb.
“Udogie played as a midfielder (in training) and can also be used in that role.”
However, with Italy’s first-choice southpaw Leonardo Spinazzola left out of Spalletti’s squad, the all-action 20-year-old is expected to play up on the left rather than in the centre during the upcoming matches with Malta and England.
Udogie has eight Under 21 caps, but this will be his first debut for the senior Azzurri side. Few would dispute that he did not deserve it.
“Destiny Udogie was outstanding,” Arsenal legend Paul Merson said after the Serie A import overcame a shaky start against Bukayo Saka in the North London derby.
“It’s some going for him to get booked so early in the game, then go up against Bukayo Saka, one of the best wingers in the world.” Udogie did an excellent job.”
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