Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro believes that Alessandro Buongiorno is a better centre-back than Riccardo Calafiori and insists Luciano Spalletti and the Azzurri ‘must talk’ to avoid another World Cup disappointment.
Former Juventus, Parma and Inter defender Cannavaro offered his view on the latest summer signings and Italy’s disappointing Euro campaign during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Thiago Motta’s Juventus have turned to Jean-Clair Todibo as Riccardo Calafiori has agreed to personal terms with Arsenal. The emerging Italy international seems on the verge of joining the Gunners for over €50m.
Cannavaro hasn’t followed Todibo much but argues that Napoli signed the best centre-back so far.
Cannavaro says Napoli signed a better centre-back than Calafiori and offers advice to Italy
“I don’t know Todibo,” admitted the ex-Udinese coach.
“Calafiori is a left-back who, as a centre-back, has great qualities in the build-up. Now, he has to confirm himself. Napoli signed the best one: Buongiorno.”
Italy CT Spalletti will meet FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and Gigi Buffon today to plan the next steps for the Azzurri on and off the pitch and Cannavaro, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, believes the coach must speak openly to his players after a disappointing EURO 2024 exit.
“It’s everyone’s fault, not only the coach, the players, or the FIGC,” said the ex-defender.
“Now, we have to start from scratch. Spalletti and the players must talk because we can’t afford not to play in the World Cup again. We need a better playing style, more runs, and more hunger. There are good young players. Did you see the youth teams?
Unfortunately, I believe Spaletti is set in his ways. He must adapt players to a system, not the other way around. Call me a pessimist but I truly believe we will never know what truly happened with this team. Who frigging knows, only they do. All I know is this: you can t play well all the time but there s truly no excuse for lack of effort, no excuse at all, which concerns me the most.