Davide Frattesi believes Italy is the only place that disrespects its own players and league but insists he doesn’t want to leave Serie A this summer.
The Italy international held a press conference at Coverciano attended by Football Italia on Tuesday.
The Sassuolo midfielder is one of the most wanted Serie A stars in the summer transfer window, with several clubs interested in his signature in Italy and abroad.
“It’s always a pleasure to be involved in these rumours,” he admitted.
“It means that I’ve done the right things. I must continue like this, with this commitment. Sassuolo director Giovanni Carnevali will do the rest. I told my agent to tell me nothing and only call if there are important things.”
Inter have been monitoring the 23-year-old as a potential replacement for Marcelo Brozovic, but Roma, Juventus and Milan are also keen. However, Sassuolo director Carnevali has recently claimed that the club has received the best offers from clubs outside Serie A, especially from the Premier League.
“I have an important choice to make. Surely it will also depend on the system. A team that plays nice football with three midfielders, with a mezzala, would be different from a team playing with two central midfielders,” he admitted.
What could give hope to Inter is that Frattesi mentioned Nicolò Barella as one of his role models.
“Surely Nicolò is the best one [midfielder] in Italy. I used to study him when I was in Serie B, now he’s closer. He is a complete player, I am sure I can still steal something from him.”
The 23-year-old would also prefer to stay in Italy rather than join a foreign club this summer.
“I’ve always gone step by step in my career, starting from Serie C. At least in my head, I need another move to a Serie A club before going abroad. I am convinced I’ll get there sooner or later, but I have to be ready.
“There is always competition in top teams, and nobody can have a starting spot guaranteed. It’s stimulating to fight for a place in the starting XI.”
Despite his desire to stay in Serie A, Frattesi criticised Italy when asked if ‘somebody’ made the wrong assessments when the likes of Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolò Zaniolo moved abroad.
“Surely, but this is because Italy is the only place that disrespects its own players and league. If a player comes from the Premier League is not necessarily stronger.”
The Azzurri will face Spain in the Nations League semis on Thursday.
“Spain have always had a strong midfield. Think about Busquets, Xavi or Iniesta. However. The new ones are also good and surely we need to pay attention and be tight, they’ll try to hit us with late runs of their midfielders so we must defend as a unit,” argued Frattesi.
“There will be tough moments, but we are a strong team and we want to win.”
Frattesi knew Silvio Berlusconi having played in his Monza side in Serie B in 2020-21: “I send my condolences to the family. That season at Monza was amazing also thanks to Adriano Galliani. I remember I was on holiday in the Maldives and didn’t know if I’d stay at Sassuolo or go to Monza on loan. I remember when Berlusconi visited the team, he was an important figure.”
Frattesi has scored seven goals in 36 appearances across all competitions with Sassuolo this term. His contract at the Mapei Stadium runs out in June 2026, so where can he improve?
“Surely, I must improve my technique and the final pass. This is something I need to work on.”
Lastly, Frattesi discussed the U20 World Cup Final lost by the Azzurrini and the imminent U21 European Championship.
“I want to congratulate the lads of the U20, they were unlucky in the Final. Unluckily as [Italians] know something about it,” he said.
“The perception we have about Italian football it’s a bit distorted. We always think that abroad it’s better, but the results prove otherwise. I think the level has risen.
“The U21 coach [Paolo Nicolato] and I have become friends now. Best of luck to him and the team, I hope they can go as far as possible. Italy have a strong team, Sandro Tonali and Scalvini will bring experience and I think they’ll have a good tournament.”