Luca Piazziformer manager of the Parma Youth Sector, a Sportitalia he spoke like this about Anas Haj’s explosion: “He’s a boy with great prospects. Already in Lecce, where he was involved in 2 of Parma’s two goals, it was understood that he didn’t arrive in Serie A by chance. With that goal he reiterated that he is an important prospect.”
What had convinced her about him?
“We had started following other players actually. Following these other profiles, however, we were attracted to him, who struck me strongly. He played under age, he played as an outside forward, perhaps he didn’t have a great physical structure, but his shots did, as did his strength in shooting. So I contacted agent Montipò and we caught him.”
How did you beat the competition from SPAL?
“Everything was set up with them given that Catellani, a very good and competent director, had always aimed for us in the Chievo youth sector and had gone to Ferrara. But we pushed hard and convinced them, also working hard on the family.”
What growth do you expect from him now?
“Being a 2005 player, it is not expected that he will play continuously, but in Pecchia’s game system he can carve out his space by playing often. To then remain in Serie A in an initially medium-level team, having a good career. To arrive at a top club he may still lack something on a physical level, but from a technical-tactical point of view he is already at a high level.”
About its origins? Has Italy ever thought about it?
“He could choose between 3 national teams, between Tunisia, Morocco and Italy. I had reported it to the Azzurri, then clearly it hadn’t exploded yet. Later Tunisia started playing him in the first team and he chose that.”