If you were asked to name the most prolific Italian goal-scorer last season what would your answer be? Stephan El Shaarawy? Antonio Di Natale? Mario Balotelli? Pablo Osvaldo? If so, then you'd be wrong. He doesn't even play in Serie A. The individual in question, believe it or not, was none other than Graziano Pellè.
Pellè finished with 27 league goals for Feyenoord, only Marco Negri – 33 goals with Glasgow Rangers (1997/98) – has scored more in a top-flight season outside of Italy. It was a landmark achievement. Only once before had Pellè reached double figures in a league campaign; during his time with Serie B outfit Cesena (on loan) in 2006/07, where he managed 10 goals in 37 games.
Pellè initially moved to the Eredivisie in 2006 because of its reputation as a 'developmental league'. At the time Louis van Gaal was managing AZ, a coach renowned worldwide for developing talents, and despite his time at Alkmaar being plagued by injuries – a championship in 2009 barely eased his frustrations – Pellè fondly remembers the good moments, describing Van Gaal as the best he's played under.
After a modest or to be brutal unspectacular season with Parma, who signed him in the summer of 2011, he returned to the Netherlands answering the call of Feyenoord. He wasn't their first choice, however. Dirk Kuyt, Luc Castaignos, Marc Janko, Roque Santa Cruz and Bojan Krkić turned Feyenoord down. "They ultimately were not interested in the Eredivisie or proved to be financially untenable," sporting director Martin van Geel said. John Guidetti – on loan from Manchester City –became darling of De Kuip the season before but couldn't be retained due to injury.
The story goes that during a holiday in Ibiza the Italian bumped into a friend of Ronald Koeman's son and told him to "send him a text message saying I want to join Feyenoord." On deadline day Pellè arrived on loan from Parma. He would later sign a permanent contract with the Roterdammers.
Guidetti gave Pellè two thumbs up, as he did when the Italian spectacularly equalised minutes from the end against Ajax last October – one of the goals of the season. It was the moment he became a cult hero; a status bestowed upon him by Het Legioen (supporters of Feyenoord). His subsequent celebration, throwing his shirt off, led to Feyenoord adopting a "ladies night" on the back of his explanation that it was done to get more women into the stadium. When that ‘night’ arrived (December 2, 2012), Pellè didn't disappoint, scoring a brace against RKC Waalwijk.
Feyenoord, so far in this campaign, are averaging 11.8 shots per game (4.8 on target); they've scored six goals with all but one coming courtesy of Pellè (83%), while last season he was responsible for 42% (27/64) of their total. The Italian’s tally of 5 league goals thus far have come from just 12 shots, with a 41.7% conversion rate telling you all you need to know about his form in front of goal.
By and large he's the focal point of their attack; strong hold-up play allows those around him (wingers and attacking midfielders) into the game and it's not outlandish to suggest an over-reliance. Frank de Boer commented, in response to Koeman's belief that Ajax lack a 'plan B' early this year, that not only does Feyenoord lack a 'plan B' themselves, Pellè is 'plan A'. "They throw everything to him," were his exact words. Indeed, of all centre forwards in the league this season only two have had more touches (165).
In their last outing against NAC Breda he displayed what many became accustomed to last year; a striker that doesn't need a host of chances to convert. Goalscoring has become a borderline obsession. He would finish second to Wilfried Bony (31 goals) in the race for the 'Golden Boot' in 2012/13, while this season the battle will seemingly be contested with Alfreð Finnbogason of Heerenveen. Pellè and the Icelandic striker, who currently is on six goals, are the only members of last season's top five that remain.
Pellè is a throwback to the kind of 'number nine' Feyenoord supporters have come to cherish in the modern era - notably Pierre van Hooijdonk and Julio Ricardo Cruz - as well as goalscorers in the mould of Kuyt, Kalou and Tomasson. If not for River Plate changing their mind at the eleventh hour Radamel Falcao would be on that list. This is a club that idolises their strikers and even to this day Ove Kindvall's name is spoken of in wonderment at De Kuip. Pellè might not reach the status of the great Swede, or those before, but like them he's writing his own chapter in the club’s folklore.
He embodies the attributes of a top class striker – aerially dominant, good movement, spatial awareness, intelligence, incisive and accurate passing and technically a really good finisher – which has made his assimilation all that smoother. Once compared to Luca Toni, his idol unsurprisingly is Filippo Inzaghi, the man who made finishing an art form, but Pellè is modest enough to say that reaching his level might be just a dream. Nonetheless there is no better reference to have.
The Dutch top flight might not be one of Europe's most illustrious but has built a reputation as a 'strikers paradise'. Ruud Geels, Wim Kieft, Henk Groot, Willy van der Kuijlen, Marco van Basten, Romário, Dennis Bergkamp, Ronaldo, Jari Litmanen, Luc Nilis, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Luis Suárez have all thrived in the division. Unfortunately back in Italy the appreciation is limited.
"I regularly suggest to conduct an interview with him (Pellè), but there's little enthusiasm from my bosses," Marika Viano, correspondent based in the Netherlands for Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport, told Algemeen Dagblad. "They would say... 'Pellè might play well, but the opposition is of a lower level' and a rating of 6.5 in Serie A is equivalent to an eight in the Eredivisie."
It's difficult to imagine, with the calibre of players at Cesare Prandelli's disposal, that an international call-up would come anytime soon. "There is lots of competition," Pellè told La Gazzetta Dello Sport this summer. "I must admit, however, that I really hope to go to Brazil next year."
Feyenoord have resurrected his career. Last month he celebrated his 28th birthday, and as we know Italian forwards – like fine wine – tend to get better with age.
