At a press conference, Silvio Baldini, who took over after the departure of Gennaro Gattuso following the fiasco in Bosnia, denounced the leaders of Italian football, responsible for the decline of Calcio. “My explanation is simple. Italian football is in the hands of leaders who prioritize their own interests over the development of the sport. They focus on transfers of experienced players rather than young talents because it serves their own interests. I don’t have to hide it, I’ve always said it. I call some thugs, and they are often the ones pulling the strings. Until we have competent leaders, the problem will persist. Going abroad gives them the opportunity to discover different championships and cultures. What unites these young people is their sincere passion for football, their authenticity and their thirst for success and money. My goal is to help them understand that football is a true way of life, a valuable tool to find the answers they seek“. As a reminder, apart from Gianluigi Donnarumma, all the players called up for the friendly matches against Luxembourg and Greece are Italian Hopes.
On the subject of the delay taken by Italian football on several subjects, Baldini also does not hold back, citing PSG as an example. “The only way to gain experience is to hit the field: if a player doesn’t play enough, his potential remains limited. The real issue does not lie in the national youth teams, which are also obtaining excellent results, but in the transition to the national A team. The problem does not depend on the Federation, but rather on the choices of the clubs. What is the point of recruiting a 39-year-old player instead of training a young person from your own training center? As long as Italian clubs are not led by visionary and serious management, the situation will not change. This approach also directly influences the pace of play, which is too slow in Italy. Young players bring dynamism, speed and enthusiasm; more experienced players, on the other hand, tend to manage their energy and attack the opponent less; just look at European models like PSG or Aston Villa. We talk about renewal, but we then settle for a tight defense, which only allows us to catch our breath. It’s a tactic that can be sufficient against average opponents, but it shows its limits as soon as the level of competition drops.“.
