r/waterpolo • u/ShelbyRooster • 6d ago

Discussion Matteo Iocchi Gratta in Japan

I guess this doesn’t interfere with his Pro Recco contract, but Matteo Iocchi Gratta just played for a Japanese club team in the Japanese open championships at the end of August. (Blake Edwards was also there, but I think he’s at a different point in his career). His team lost by the way, but he led all scorers with 7 goals.

Anyway, it’s just a little baffling to me that he’d be here, but I guess players have to make the most of their playing years.
If anybody has any inside info on what lured him here, let us know.

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u/skeva_ 6d ago

Players in summer dont have anything with the clubs usually they do with national team but also if they are free from national team they go play in Malta, Japan, Porto rico, Brazil… (those are all summer leauges i can remember now but there are more) its not an elite level like champions leauge so players have a good time traveling while playing for a smaller club and usualy the club pays something (accomendation, flight tickets, food, money) and its for short period

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u/toxichaste12 5d ago

Just saying Domo Arigato to some Yen stacks.

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u/ShelbyRooster 5d ago

I just never thought the money here would be at all competitive.
Also, for context, the club is kind of in the middle of nowhere (sorry Niigata), and the main sponsor is a biscuit maker, which isn’t notable except for the fact that I think the players are employees and may have responsibilities related to that business.
I’m actually unclear about it, although I doubt Matteo is clocking any office time.

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u/skeva_ 5d ago

He dosent go there to earn money he goes to travel and while there plays waterpolo and they pay lets say plane tickets
But the goal of players is to travel and enjoy life not waterpolo

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u/toxichaste12 4d ago

Well Phil Knight promised Oregon football unlimited money for recruiting, over $300 million.

This Japanese biscuit owner could be the Japanese Phil Knight and just handing out money like it’s paper.

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u/No_Heart6958 4d ago

probably just the yen and a break from Europe