HE is the giant striker known as the “Tower of Pisa”; who grew up idolising TWO Manchester United strikers.
And while might have shown he knows how to Pisa-off ALL his team-mates with one act of selfishness this season, he could yet prove to be the answer to ’s problems up front.
The 6ft 7in Lucca, 24, has emerged as a prime candidate as United plan for a cost-efficient summer refit, with a £25m fee mooted.
With 12 goals for Udinese this season, catapulting him into the squad for the first time, Lucca has shown he can stand out for more than just his
And now the boy who had pictures of both and on his bedroom wall is in line to become the next Old Trafford totem.
In Italy, there is excitement about what Lucca can achieve.
Italian football expert Tancredi Palmeri told Sun Sport: “What fans like about Lucca is that we don’t produce strikers of his type any more.
“He has exploded onto the scene over the past two seasons because he is seen as a classic centre-forward, old school. There is nobody here like him.”;
Born on the outskirts of Turin, joined Torino’s set-up at the age of eight, leaving after seven years before returning to the club in 2018, before a prolific loan spell in Brescia’s youth team.
A free transfer to Palermo, relegated to Serie D after financial chaos but swiftly ascending the Italian pyramid, was the launchpad – not that he needs one to be noticed.
Lucca scored 13 goals in Serie C to earn a £2m move to Pisa, where his frame brought the nickname comparison with the city’s world-renowned landmark.
While Lucca only scored six in his first Serie B season, he caught the eye of , becoming the first Italian to ever play for the Amsterdam giants.
It was, in truth, a mixed stay. Lucca struggled to make an impact under ’s replacement Alfred Schreuder, making just 16 appearances.
Frustrated at one point, Lucca posted – and then swiftly deleted – a photo of him giving a two-fingered salute that was interpreted as a message aimed at the coach.
Looking back, Lucca admitted: “Maybe I arrived at the wrong time.
It was cold, it rained often. The culture is very different. You eat early. People are closed.”
Preparation for Manchester, possibly? But there was a positive impact, too.
He added: “Having lived in Amsterdam for a year, I understand English well. And I also learned to speak Spanish.”;
Despite scoring just twice, Udinese pounced, taking him on an initial one year loan with an £8m option that they took up after eight goals last season, his first in the top flight.
Lucca took to the responsibilities, becoming an aerial threat upsetting defenders but also with the pace to get away from his markers.
Palmeri explained: “Lucca had nearly moved to Sassuolo before he went to Ajax but they argued over £2m, when Pisa asked for £12m and they didn’t want to pay that much.
“But as soon as he arrived at Udinese people started noticing. He got into the under-21 side and this January he was on the radar of both and Milan.
“They didn’t go for him in the end because Juve signed and Milan took Santiago Gimenez from but Italian clubs will be keen again this summer.”;
That is despite the moment of notoriety that saw Lucca’s image going viral.
It came in a match with Lecce, when Udinese were awarded a first half penalty.
Skipper and former winger Florian Thauvin was the club’s designated penalty taker but Lucca, looking for his 10th Serie A goal of the campaign, took hold of the ball and refused to let go, much to the disbelief and anger of his team-mates.
While Lucca smashed into the top corner, none of his team-mates joined his celebrations, with Thauvin ripping off his armband and asking to be taken off.
Palmeri added: “It was clear how angry everyone was with him.
“Almost instantly, there was a counter-attack chance but the Udinese players simply refused to pass the ball to him.
“That was enough for the coach, who took him off when the ball went out of play. Lucca looked like a guilty kid.”;
It was a , with the coach, Kosta Runjaic, making an example of his top scorer.
Runjaic recalled: “Sometimes you need rule-breakers – but not at that moment, in that situation.
“He didn’t follow the rules, so I took him off. Then, afterwards, we had a very good discussion. He told me how sorry he felt and he’s shown that since.”;
Lucca did exactly that, making a public apology to Thauvin and his team-mates with a social media post that read: “I wanted to be tough but, on my own, I'm nobody..”;
There was genuine repentance, demonstrated when, in Udinese’s next game, another spot-kick was awarded.
This time, Lucca got involved in a spat with the Parma defenders who were trying to get into Thauvin’s head, forcing them away before the skipper netted and joining in a genuine team celebration.
Lucca maintains: “During the games there is so much adrenaline.
“I was excited. In that moment I felt like going to the spot and I did it, scored and we brought home the three points.
“I'm a striker. I always want to score. If I don't score, I'm in a bad mood all week.
“But before Parma, I spoke to the coach and we cleared things up. I recognised that when it came to penalties, Thauvin had priority.”;
Runjaic, too, is aware that he must make the most of Lucca before his inevitable departure.
He said: “Any coach of any team at a high level would like to have a striker with his profile.
“He is so dangerous in the box, great in the air – maybe the best header of a ball in .
“But he is equally good on the ground, too. And he keeps on improving.”;
Yet still with a mind on those idols of his youth.
Lucca admitted: “In life I would ask to take a photo with only two people, and Ibrahimovic.
“What I always loved with both of them was their charisma. I would like that to be the way I play as well.
“I know what people say about me because of my size but I don’t see myself as a rare pearl.
“At the same time, compared to many others, I have a particular physique and technical and aerial qualities.
“I am convinced that I can do great things.
“For now my priority is Udinese. But I know that if I keep working and scoring goals, opportunities will come. After all, who doesn't aim for a big team?”
