Matteo Lavelli made history for Inter over the weekend, with a decisive action that led to victory against Fiorentina. The young striker, who will turn 20 on December 8, shared the most significant images of the match on his social media: entering the field in place of Barella five minutes from the end and the rush that forced the penalty converted by Zielinski. His performance confirmed his growth within the team and attracted the attention of coach Gian Piero Chivu, who included him in the senior department for the midweek match against Venezia.
Lavelli already had his official Serie A debut in January, when he played against Bologna. Since then the Romanian coach has been able to exploit the right moments to bring out young talents, as happened with Pio Esposito and Kamate. In the case of Lavelli, Chivu's tactical choice had the aim of making the youngster emerge from the bench, replacing Vanoli's midfielder and allowing him to show his potential in front of the Nerazzurri fans. The decision was made at a crucial moment of the match, when Inter was in difficulty and needed a breakthrough.
Lavelli's path to the first team was not easy. After starting his career at Vibe Ronchese, he played for Monza and Renate before joining Inter's youth team. In 2024, the young man faced severe meningitis, which kept him in hospital for more than a month. Despite this difficulty, Lavelli returned to the field and proved to be a determined player ready to give his all for his team.
Among his most important feats are the hat-trick against Roma with the Under 18s in March 2024 and his participation in the victory against Fiorentina. Lavelli said he preferred a two-man attack, but also expressed his respect for Cristiano Ronaldo as an idol. On the pitch, the youngster was called "Pocho" by his fans, in reference to his haircut and resemblance to former Argentine striker Lavezzi.
With the match against Venezia scheduled, Lavelli will have the opportunity to further demonstrate his value and consolidate his position in the team. His growth has been followed closely by fans and the media, and the young man's future looks promising for Inter.