Ezequiel Zeballos has joined newly promoted Monza after accepting the club’s invitation, with the former Boca Juniors player saying his decision to move to Serie A was driven by his father.
Zeballos was asked by journalists why he had chosen Italy’s top flight when discussing his move to Monza. He replied that the decision had been made for his father, adding: “In Italy I am because of Maradona.”
The Argentine has now moved to a club that has only just returned to the highest level of Italian football. Monza’s promotion means the team is competing in Serie A again, and Zeballos has accepted the opportunity to continue his career in the division.
The link to Maradona provides the central explanation for Zeballos’ attraction to Italy. His comments also highlighted the personal importance of the transfer, with the player saying that his father was the reason he opted for Serie A and Monza.
Monza’s start to the league campaign has been difficult. After two rounds of the Italian championship, the club has two defeats from two matches and remains without a point.
The next challenge will come away from home against Parma in the third round of Serie A. That match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 6 September.
For Zeballos, the fixture will represent another chance to begin life in Italian football after leaving Boca Juniors. For Monza, it will be an opportunity to claim its first result of the season following consecutive defeats at the start of its return to Serie A.
His explanation for the move has therefore combined two elements: a personal reason connected to his father and an admiration for Maradona. While Monza’s immediate priority is to improve its league record, Zeballos’ comments have placed the transfer in a broader family and footballing context.
The club’s upcoming meeting with Parma will be the next stage of that story, as Monza attempts to end its losing run and Zeballos continues his introduction to Serie A.
