Juventus' sporting director Beppe Marotta spoke out against the new rules imposing a minimum number of Italian players in Serie A.
As of this season, all teams in the Italian championship will have to present a list of 25 eligible players, which must include four home-grown players from the youth squad, and four that have already played in Serie A for a minimum number of years.
Juventus' sporting director Beppe Marotta spoke out against the new rules imposing a minimum number of Italian players in Serie A.
As of this season, all teams in the Italian championship will have to present a list of 25 eligible players, which must include four home-grown players from the youth squad, and four that have already played in Serie A for a minimum number of years.
While technically none of these eight players have to be Italian, the rule was specifically introduced to help cultivate local talent and to prevent an excessive reliance on foreign players.
“This is a rule that works against spectacle,” Marotta said, as reported by Tuttosport. “We're attempting to reboot our championship, but then rules like these are applied. It's senseless.
“This regulation, in this particular historical moment for the Italian movement, is strongly negative because it limits spectacle.”
Juventus, who may have to drop Hernanes from the Champions League because of similar rules within UEFA, have pushed for an alternative in the past.
Their ideal would be the promotion of 'second teams' or reserve squads, owned by the same Serie A club but made to compete in Lega Pro. This would allow teams to cultivate their own talents, particularly the youngsters, without having to loan them out to other clubs.