Juventus-owned Nicolò Fagioli insists Italian football needs to make it easier for young players to flourish. ‘In Spain, England, Germany and France, more youngsters get to play than in Italy.’

The 21-year-old midfielder has been shuffled around from the Juventus youth academy to their Under-23 side in Serie C, then last summer moved to Cremonese on loan.

He has scored three goals with six assists in 27 Serie B appearances so far this season.

The failure of Italy to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup has raised questions over the number of Italians playing regularly in Serie A and who are therefore available for selection.

“I see that in Spain, perhaps not so much in England, but in Germany and France too, more youngsters get to play than in Italy,” said Fagioli in a press conference while on Under-21 international duty.

“I can say that when it comes to Italy, a young player might get a chance, makes a mistake in one or two games, he is criticised, people say he’s not ready and then he is sent out for experience at a lower level, so it’s difficult for a coach to pick someone consistently.

“We can feel it and see that’s what is happening, that Italian clubs don’t tend to put their faith in young players. We hope things will change with time.”

Fagioli is considered one of the best talents to emerge from the Juventus youth academy, yet he received just one Serie A appearance for 20 minutes against Crotone in February 2021.

17 thought on “Fagioli: ‘Young players don’t get a chance in Italy’”
  1. It makes sense that all leagues should try to play more home born talent as it helps at international level but most academy’s scout foreign players at a young age and they can become home grown.

    The trouble it that the clubs want success now and try to buy proven young talent rather than yo development.

    Chelsea proved you can build a team when Lampard did it for Chelsea and Klopp at liverpool to some extent and now look how those young English players are getting on?

    Juve should have stuck with Pirlo and allowed him to bring through their youngsters..
    ..

  2. Italians playing consistently well for their teams whether that is Juve, Lazio, Inter, AC Milan, Inter Milan etc and playing in European competition would benefit the national team greatly. Come on Italy make it so.

  3. Even with foreign players, none of the Italian clubs reach Champion League quarter finals. So, yes, using foreign players are not really the answer.

  4. If all the teams played more youngsters I feel the league would be more exciting. Why depend on old legs until they are in the late 30s like Chiellini, Bonucci, Quagliarella, Ibra. These guys should be coming off the bench! Develop the youth!

  5. This is a real problem that needs to be resolved through regulations and forcing teams to develop home grown talent. It is too obvious to no longer ignore.

  6. Not true.

    When you miss out on playing time right before the highest level possible, it will have consequences.

    Italy has talent but clubs prefer cheaper exports.

  7. These are the issues. Can you imagine, a team like Undines don’t have an Italian in their starting eleven except probably #udogie.

  8. Italy needs foreign coaches not foreign players. Our Italian coaches is the problem
    just look at Xavi with all the young players while max Allegri is sending talented youth to
    serie B. And very difficult to give youngster a chance even against minnow sides like Salernitana or Spezia

  9. As long as you still have coaches like allegri sniffing around training grounds, Italian youngsters would never make it. They should avoid Juventus at all costs.

  10. italy team is actually pretty good on paper,the players are mostly great for their clubs,but can’t usually do it in nazionale it happened during the euros but the team spirit is gone again as well as poor finishing and not enough young talent

  11. They should have never send Fagioli to serie B he should have give competition to Rabiot and Arthur or send to another serie A team and maybe he should already find space in mancini’s italy. Sending him to serie B what for. While 18 year old pedri, Gavi and Ansufati plays regular for Barca. When a player have great talent experience is not needed.
    Is best for Italian youngster to be more brave and go abroad like verratti did as a teenager at PSG otherwise Italian coaches are killing them

  12. seria a has been the problem for for farking yrs and has been talked about for yrs but still not fixed and will never be fixed the the big clubs have to much say in it, italy has always been a basket case with the odd era of success that keeps all the morons that runs the game happy and satisfied it will never change the romans invented corruption gonna need another 2000yrs to change the mentality

  13. Fagioli should be more bold and ask to be sold. He should be thinking about abroad. Just like the youngster in Spain moving quickly abroad. Playing is serie B is waste oR Just sitting on the juve bench like Rugani instead to be bold and demanding more playing time

  14. Faran you are right youngster need to be more bold if they wants to become a top player. they should challenge them self. I remember Kaka telling Ancelotti he does not come to Milan to sit on the bench.

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