Federico Pastorello, the influential agent at the helm of P&P Sport Management, recently offered a comprehensive look into his summer activities during an interview with Sportmediaset. He delved into the careers and recent developments of numerous footballers under his care. However, the most pivotal negotiation he facilitated involved coach Simone Inzaghi, for whom Pastorello acted as an intermediary in a potential move to Saudi Arabia. “This kind of transfer doesn`t materialize in just four days; there`s extensive groundwork behind it,” Pastorello explained. “We had already explored such opportunities, but the truth is, he never wanted to delve into the specifics of a potential agreement before certain events unfolded. He confided in me that if he had won the Champions League, he would never have left Inter. I assure you, the decision came after the final in Munich and following discussions with the Nerazzurri management, though, of course, there`s always behind-the-scenes work in these cases. The financial aspect was important, but he also wanted to test himself abroad, and the Saudi league is among the most significant globally, not just for its economic potential but also for the quality of its championship. Al Hilal, furthermore, is Asia`s most prominent club by history and fan base.”
Much curiosity surrounds the true condition of Romelu Lukaku, who appears to be rapidly recovering to return to the field. Pastorello commented, “For those who know him, it`s no surprise: he`s a young man with exceptional willpower and determination, and he`s extremely professional. The only thing I can say is that he`s working to come back stronger than before. Certain injuries leave their mark, but they also allow you to reset physically and mentally. The pre-season training will make him return even stronger; I`m convinced of it. He has an even greater desire to fight to make an impact again and help the team achieve its goals. He had an unlucky start to the season, but soon, Conte will have an additional weapon at his disposal.”
In Napoli, Pastorello also represents Alex Meret, who this year faces strong competition. Pastorello stated, “Alex was one of the most sought-after players as his contract approached its expiry, but he never hid his desire to renew with Napoli. Negotiations were protracted solely due to the need to meet certain economic and contractual objectives. Neither party ever wavered. He received 4-5 concrete offers, including from abroad, but he wanted to stay in Naples. Notably, he renewed knowing that a high-level second goalkeeper would arrive; [the coach] was clear with him and with me. The new keeper has different characteristics than Alex, and today the coach is rotating them somewhat, but despite this, which we anticipated, Alex never had any doubts.”
Another club where Pastorello has two players in the same position is Inter: defenders Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij. “Both could be starters,” Pastorello remarked. “This year, the rotation is a bit more pronounced than last year, but they are two extraordinary players with Inter`s shirt `stitched on` them. Stefan has been here a long time; he had the opportunity to leave this summer but chose to stay. Ace has been at Inter for less time but is already in the fans` hearts. Both are very calm about the coming months. Regarding renewals, discussions will take place in April, as the club stated. If they could choose, I know they would be happy to stay, but it will depend on many factors. Certainly, at the moment, it`s a luxury for Inter to have two such players.”
Pastorello also discussed Nikola Krstovic`s career path. He highlighted Krstovic`s strong mentality and ambition, noting how he seized the opportunity at Lecce. Pastorello believes Krstovic is destined for a top club like Atalanta, where he could achieve significant success and win trophies due to their shared ambitions. He added, “When we received this mandate, we accepted with great enthusiasm. He built himself up; he has a very important mentality. He knows exactly what he wants and what he needs to do to get there. He made excellent use of the opportunity at Lecce, and now he is making his mark. Clearly, Atalanta remains a club of a dimension not comparable to others [in terms of global giants], but it`s a place he could go because he shares ambitions with the Percassi family. I`m convinced he could stay at Atalanta for years, where he can find great satisfaction and even win trophies.”
However, the negotiation that gave Pastorello the most satisfaction, somewhat surprisingly, was for goalkeeper Radu. “Radu signed with me at the end of 2024,” Pastorello recalled, “when he was training with Inter`s Primavera team. The goalkeeper position is difficult to place because teams never look for many. We reached the last weekend of the winter transfer market, and we had nothing; nobody was looking. I told him a miracle would be needed, and then four different injuries occurred, including Filip Stankovic`s at Venezia, where Radu eventually went. He gave his all in those five months at Venezia, even if it wasn`t enough to save the team, and he was the first player I settled in the summer with a four-year deal at Celta Vigo. Now he plays in the Europa League and has also returned to the national team.”
