Fabio Cannavaro warns Italian football has to ‘wake up’ and realise it is falling behind in terms of infrastructure, but is also worried that failing to qualify for the World Cup is ‘seen almost as normal.’
The retired defender won the Ballon d’Or in 2006 as well as the World Cup with Italy and had been mentioned as a candidate to take over should Roberto Mancini walk away after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
“It’s only natural that when Italy doesn’t reach an important tournament like the World Cup, certain situations and names will make their way into the papers,” Cannavaro told Sky Sport Italia.
“I was a former player and captain of Italy, but the truth is there was never anything in those rumours. I was pleased with the link, as it means I did well with the Nazionale, but we never had talks.”
This is the second consecutive World Cup that Italy have failed to qualify for, even though between those tournaments they won the European Championship.
“What frightens me is seeing the way this is being treated almost as if it’s normal, people seem resigned to it.
“The system here does not work. We’re not progressing in the European club competitions, nor with Italy, so something has to change.”
Cannavaro worked with Marcello Lippi and then replaced him for a few games as manager of the China national squad.
What would he change to bring Italian football back to the top?
“We are behind in every conceivable area. Just watching Portugal-Turkey and Italy-North Macedonia, the difference of the stadiums was remarkable.
“We keep going like this and don’t realise that the others are going faster and we are no longer the best. We’ve got to wake up and do something.”
Cannavaro retired as a player in 2012 and has worked as a coach in China and the UAE, but is hoping for his first European management experience.
“The objective is to find a project that allows me to do what I want and show what I’ve got in mind. I have already turned down several offers.
“I chose to grow as a person and a coach by travelling, getting to know new cultures in other countries. I’d like to work in Italy too, but we need to do something about the infrastructure.”