Since his arrival at Fulham some 18 months ago promising striker Marcello Trotta has generated a lot of interest. It seems nothing excites quite like a talented young goal scoring prospect.
The Italian youngster has taken the considerable hype in his stride and is clearly a dedicated and determined young man.
At 17, Trotta has a bright footballing future ahead of him, but he is the first to admit that in this game application and commitment count for just as much as natural talent.
“I have seen a lot of very good young players fall short,” reflects Marcello. “A player can have all the skill and ability in the world, but if they are not prepared to put in the work then history has proven that they will not make the grade.
“That’s certainly something that this Club instils in its young players and something I understand. I might have scored a lot of goals for the U18s last season, but it is important that I built on that.
“I know that people expect a lot of me, and I want to prove that I am a good player and one that is capable of stepping up and making a difference for the First Team.”
Such is his promise, the Club recently offered him an extension to the initial professional deal he signed last October, with Trotta committing himself to Fulham until June 2013.
Having previously spent time at hometown club Napoli and Manchester City, Marcello has made significant progress at Fulham, scoring 30 times for the U18s last term; goals which did much to help the team reach the Quarter-Final of the FA Youth Cup. His form has also been rewarded with Italy U19 recognition.
“I think I have definitely improved during my time at Fulham,” he says. “Last season was very pleasing for me, and I am really happy with the progress that I have made. The decision to leave Italy was a difficult one – but now I am seeing the benefits.
“English football has toughened me up - it has taught me things I would never have learned back in Italy. Don’t get me wrong, I learned so much at Napoli, a club with a brilliant reputation for youth football, I just feel that I have more to offer now.
“I believe that I am more of a complete player. I say that I got my technique from Italy and my speed and power from my time in England. I would always encourage players to sample different cultures and environments. It would be easy to stay in the comfort of familiar surroundings, but there is so much to learn out in the world.”
Trotta’s time in England has certainly rounded his football education, and having overcome the language and cultural differences relatively easily, the youngster has become a popular figure at the Club’s Motspur Park Training Ground.
“I just feel very happy here,” explains Marcello. “My dream was to play football in England and the Club has given me that opportunity. For a young player, moving to a new country is a gamble, and many have failed to adapt.
“Of course, there was no guarantee that things would go well for me here, but it was a risk that I was prepared to take. In football you have to make bold decisions and that was my one.
“There are quite a few young Italians that play for Premier League clubs, and hopefully we will see more of us progress, like Federico Macheda has done at Manchester United.
“Over the years a lot of Italian players have made an impression in England. We look up to the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Paolo Di Canio, and it’s up to us younger players to follow their example.”
Trotta has certainly been turning heads domestically, both for Gary Brazil’s U18s and more recently Billy McKinlay’s Development Squad, but he has been in impressive form for his country too, as a regular for Italy’s U19s as his country revolutionises its footballing objectives in the wake of a disappointing showing at this summer’s World Cup finals. Former international favourite Roberto Baggio has come in to head up the technical sector while legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi has been named as the overall supervisor of all of Italy’s youth teams from U21 down to U16.
“A new direction has been taken and hopefully I can be part of that,” he reveals. “From the top down there have been a lot of changes, and I think there will now be more of an emphasis on younger players coming through.
“To work with legends like Baggio and Sacchi is an honour because they have achieved so much in the game. Baggio was one of the best players we have ever had, he was magnificent, while Sacchi has achieved so much as a coach.
“I’m very much looking forward to working with them, and again, that kind of experience can only make me a better player. I take great pride in representing my country and hopefully I will be wearing the blue of the Azzurri for many years.”
Anyone that has watched Trotta in action will no doubt testify to the promise he has shown; he’s physically imposing, positive in possession and ruthless in front of goal. Words of commendation have littered the message boards.
Some inside the Club feel that he is not too far from the First Team, and with Trotta stepping up into McKinlay’s squad on a more permanent basis, the youngster has entered a crucial stage of his development.
“I know that this is an important season for me,” details Marcello. “I have just signed a new contract and I have to show that I am worthy of that. I’m enjoying working with Billy McKinlay and, of course, more game time for the reserves is the target.
“I’m working hard at improving my game further, particularly in terms of shooting with my weaker right foot and scoring with my head. I know that Billy likes his forwards to track back and defend from the front, so that is also something I am trying to improve.
“As a striker, I love scoring goals, and the ultimate ambition is to do that for the First Team – that would be unbelievable. I want to establish myself here and become a top striker, who Fulham can rely on for goals.
“There is plenty for me to do, but I’ll work hard to try and make that happen.”