MONDO FUTBOL: "CAPRARI AND MANAJ, INTER'S FUTURE"

MILAN - It's a simple finish - a tap-in with the goalkeeper beaten - yet certain goals cannot be erased. Even if the authorities are forced to rewrite the result from their offices. Scoring a goal moments after coming on is an unforgettable feeling. A sensation that Rey Manaj, in his first season at Pescara, had already experienced on his international debut. That allowed him to shake off the bad boy image that had accompanied the Albanian during his first taste of Italian football, replacing it with something more tangible.

"I dedicate it to my family," said Manaj, clutching the national team shirt. He comes from a family of Inter supporters, who left his homeland at the turn of the new Millennium amid a huge financial crisis and civil war, the result of a failed Ponzi scheme launched by then-president Sali Berisha. Young Rey burst onto the scene in Italy, developing on a consistent basis aside from a couple of disappointments. From the failed trials at Atalanta and AC Milan to the joys of Piacenza, before his spell at Cremonese which proved a turning point in Manaj's footballing career. A meeting with former Inter man Gigi Simoni in the Lombard capital proved crucial, Manaj was destined for the big time.

"He has no fear and great self-belief but that's why he needs to keep his feet on the ground. He has a strong character which occasionally makes him a little bit confrontational," the Crevalcore coach told MondoFutbol.com. Tenacity, self-esteem and ambition are hallmarks of this natural-born talent, as Albania head coach Gianni De Biasi dubbed him. The Italian appreciates the youngster's ability to admit his mistakes, apologise and get back involved - to be ready when called upon.

There are certain parallels with his team-mate Gianluca Caprari, another player who immediately found the net for Pescara. He's a kid from Rome, lightning quick ever since his days as a ball boy at the Stadio Olimpico. Indeed it was he who spotted the ball in the corner which allowed Rodrigo Taddei and Mancini to catch out the Palermo defence and take home three points, keeping the Giallorossi in the title race with Inter during Roberto Mancini's first spell at the club.

That same nous helped him to the win the Allievi and Primavera titles with the Giallorossi - the former under Andrea Stramaccioni - earning the respect first of Montella, then Luis Enrique, going on to make his debut in the Coppa Italia against Inter. The Nerazzurri are next up for Pescara and have been a recurring theme in Caprari's career. Years later, having broken ties with the Eternal City, Gianluca still plays the same way. He's bold, has quick feet and a great right foot. Indeed he impressed Zdenek Zeman when the pair met at the Stadio Adriatico in 2011/12. The Czech smoothed out some of the rough edges in his character and began to polish up a gem during training in the week, which however at one stage looked in danger of remaining a rough diamond following a series of injuries.

Now though after a trip from Rome to Pescara and back again, it's time for Inter. And should he score, they'll even turn a blind eye in Milan and won't rule out the goal.

Aniello Luciano

 Versi Bahasa Indonesia  Versione Italiana