Fabio Capello sees Barcelona‘s influence on Thiago Motta’s playing style and feels the Bologna coach is ready to join a top club in the 2024-25 campaign.
Motta’s Bologna are surprisingly in the race for a Champions League placement as they sit fourth in the Serie A table, level on 45 points with Atalanta who have a game in hand.
Bologna secured a key 2-1 win over Lazio on Sunday and are currently eight points above the Biancocelesti in the Serie A table.
Motta has been linked with a number of top clubs for next season. His contract with Bologna runs out in June 2024 and even if the Rossoblu would love to keep the ex-Italy international at the Stadio Dall’Ara, Capello feels the 41-year-old is ready for a top club.
“The most difficult thing is to play simple football. Thiago Motta doesn’t explain football. He does it,” the ex-Milan and Juventus coach wrote in an article published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He was a practical and efficient midfielder and he’s the same on the bench. I like Bologna’s personality, but behind their results, there is a clear tactical idea.
“The ball possession is not sterile but is used to go forward. Bologna players are not controlled as they were in a video game. Thiago Motta wants his players to have courage in all areas of the pitch and they take responsibility. It’s exactly what he used to do when he was in the middle of the boxing ring.
“Being a former midfielder does not guarantee success, but it often helps. Think about Pep Guardiola or Xabi Alonso. Thiago grew up at Barcelona, and the Spanish influence is evident in his playing style. The La Liga influence is dominant everywhere except here,” continued Capello.
“Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) is followed by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and Unai Emery (Aston Villa) in the Premier League. In Germany, Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen) is the runaway leader. In France, there is Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain), while Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) is ahead of everyone else in Spain.
“Motta was coached by Ancelotti, but also Mourinho (Inter) and Gasperini (Genoa). He has taken something from all his teachers and re-elaborated it. From Ancelotti’s philosophy to Gasp’s desire to dominate. And his management is reminiscent of Mourinho.
“Thiago played for top clubs, Barcelona, the Inter side that won the treble and PSG, so he already knows this aspect. For all these reasons, I am convinced he is ready for a further step. I don’t know the future, but the top Italian or European clubs that will pick him won’t be wrong.”
Motta was appointed by Bologna in September 2022 to replace Sinisa Mihajlovic. He has also coached Genoa and Spezia in Serie A.