Matteo Mancinelli is out of action. The Domotek Volley player, who has enjoyed an extraordinary season thus far, will be forced to undergo knee surgery starting Monday next week. This operation will prematurely end his season, but not his connection to this city and these colors.
In the season finale, the semifinal against Acqui Terme, Mancinelli was on the bench with his teammates, present, involved, and a true Amaranth. “I’m thrilled to be here,” said the Castelferretti spiker. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to undergo knee surgery next week. It was a fantastic year, but for me, it ended too soon. This is a beautiful place, a picture-perfect setting, and a city that, as our coach Polimeni says, deserves better. It’s a shame it’s ending so early, but I see the boys are in great shape and continuing their climb toward promotion.”
Praise for Zappoli – When asked about his defensive partner, Mancinelli has no doubts: “Zappoli is very strong, he’s a golden boy on the outside, and you have to know how to handle him. He’s a phenomenon, always has been, and his technical prowess is remarkable. When I arrived in September, he was definitely a player to look up to. This is the moment he needs to improve.”
Analysis of Belluno – All eyes are on the final. “Belluno, in my opinion, is an even stronger team than Reggio Emilia,” Mancinelli analyzed. “We have to go there with a knife between our teeth. There’s a final, yet another one we’re lucky enough to play in this year, and we have to go there to destroy them. They’re a very strong team, with experienced players, guys from another category. We have to play our game, have fun on the pitch, and give it our all. If we play with a smile on our faces, things will happen and we’ll have fun, which is the beauty of this sport.”
The future and the city’s embrace – Regarding the possibility of seeing him in the same jersey again next season, Mancinelli is cautious but doesn’t close any doors: “I sincerely hope so. But the first goal is to have surgery and get back in the best possible shape. Then we’ll see about next year. Let’s get over the ‘if’, then we’ll think about it.”
