It had been a torrid time for Ciro Immobile. The former Juventus youth product had scored 22 goals in 33 appearances for Torino during the 2013-14 campaign, sparking interest in the striker from foreign shores. There, he had become the first Granata player to win the Capocannoniere (top-scorer) award since Francesco Graziani in 1977 and it was Borussia Dortmund who came knocking.
After scoring just three goals in his first Bundesliga season, Immobile moved on to Sevilla, but Spain would be no better for him. After just eight appearances and two goals in Andalucia, the La Liga outfit loaned him back to Torino in January 2015. Those Granata supporters only had memories of his glorious previous spell with the club, his European flop not even a consideration as they welcomed him back with open arms.
He even kept his cool as he was forced to re-take a penalty, slotting home to wrap up the hero’s return narrative as his side beat Frosinone 4-2. Skipping forward to the present day, the Italian international is now at Lazio, and he stepped up to take a penalty once again on Sunday evening. This time it was the Supercoppa Italiana against his former side Juventus, but he absorbed any pressure to fire his side into the lead.
After adding another after the break – this time a superb headed effort – it seems like Immobile is in form ready for the start of the league season next week. Last term he found the net on 23 occasions, finishing fifth in the top scorer’s charts with only one goal less than €90m Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.
A closer inspection of his goal record reveals a slightly different story however, as only one of those goals was against top sides. His strike against Roma in April stood alone against braces against the likes of Udinese, Cagliari, Bologna and Palermo. Whilst it would be unfair to take something away from his achievement last term, the statistics highlight the fact that Immobile has yet to present a real goal threat against the very best sides in Italy.
But a newly tenacious mentality from Simone Inzaghi’s side was paired with a brace from the striker against the reigning – albeit out of form – champions of Serie A, perhaps signalling that the 27-year-old he could now be in for his best campaign yet.
“I’m happy here, and I didn’t want to change again,” Immobile told Corriere dello Sport. “I received a few offers, but I never even considered them. We’ve reached the Europa League, which I’ve never played in, and I’d like to do well in the cup competitions too. All I’ll say is that I’ll stay here as long as I’m happy and as long as Lazio want me.”
The 3-5-2 system deployed by Inzaghi is also used by Italy boss Giampiero Ventura, the man who brought Immobile back to his then Torino side in January 2015. There, Immobile played with Andrea Belotti and between them the pair fired in eight and nine goals respectively for Italy in the calendar year following March 2016.
“As we saw last season, if the team plays like this, then I too benefit as a striker,” Immobile admitted after the Supercoppa victory. “I couldn’t believe it when I scored that header! Between Medhi Benatia and Giorgio Chiellini, who are both really strong in the air, and I don’t really score many headers.”
Perhaps his increased form is due to the 3-5-2 system, or perhaps it is to do with the team spirit that he described as “Lazio’s strength” in that same interview. Or maybe Ciro Immobile has simply matured into the striker he was always tipped to become.
