Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is concerned that Italian football is continuing to lose ground on other top Leagues in Europe.
“The culture of Italian football is about 10-20 years behind the times,” the Italian international warned. “The way we think and live it is all wrong.
“We are behind English football, Spanish and German. We’ll soon be behind the French championship too.
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is concerned that Italian football is continuing to lose ground on other top Leagues in Europe.
“The culture of Italian football is about 10-20 years behind the times,” the Italian international warned. “The way we think and live it is all wrong.
“We are behind English football, Spanish and German. We’ll soon be behind the French championship too.
“For a start, look at our stadiums and our kick off times. We play in January at 9 o’clock at night in Udine…
“It wouldn’t take a lot to improve, like Serie B who play at Christmas and then have January off.
“I’m not saying this with venom or anger because if our football is behind then it is also because of me seeing as I am a part of it.
“However, had I left Roma in the past or if I leave in the future then I would run for an experience abroad.”
Those comments will fuel the transfer rumour mill which is still linking the 30-year-old with a capital exit this summer.
“I feel like an integral part of Roma and Roma are an integral part of my life,” added the youth team product.
“But if I was to go then I would not play for another Italian side out of respect to the club. I would move to a foreign outfit.”
There are suggestions that Giallorosso officials could sacrifice the player in order to get his €6m net annual salary off their wage bill.