As the Federation pushes to ensure a minimum number of Italians play in Serie A and at youth level, the clubs ask to scrap the existing limits on foreign players instead.
The failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups prompted another look inward from the Italian football authorities, with very different ideas on what to do next.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina complained bitterly after the 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia that coach Roberto Mancini had “little to work with” because so few young Italian players are given a chance at club level.
He suggested introducing new rules ordering clubs to use teams that are at least 30 per cent Italian, both at senior and above all at youth level.
Meanwhile, La Repubblica claims Serie A sides requested at a recent meeting to expand the number of non-EU players they can have in the side from two to eight.
It only goes to highlight the difficulties Italian football is facing with the tussle between clubs and the Nazionale.