Leonardo Bonucci’s latest interview has sparked a debate on Italian youths, with Il Corriere dello Sport writing that the Juventus defender wants ‘experienced young players.’
Bonucci released an interview with DAZN on Monday, going through Juventus’ highs and lows in the current campaign.
The Bianconeri have earned a top-four finish with three games to spare but have never been credible title contenders and were eliminated from the Champions League Round of 16 at the hands of Villarreal. Bonucci partially blamed Juventus’ youths and their lack of experience.
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“We must improve in everything and sometimes we pay a high price for lacking experience,” he said.
“It happens when you have many young players, but we have the basis for building something important.”
His claims have sparked a debate among Juventus fans on social media and Il Corriere dello Sport journalist Roberto Perrone offered his view on Bonucci’s words in a column published in today’s edition.
‘Everyone talks about the youths, but they are never allowed to talk. What would they say, for example, about Bonucci’s claims? We’ll never know because none of them will be given a chance to reply,’ wrote Perrone.
‘We mention young players only when our movement suffers huge blows, like the second consecutive elimination from the World Cup, blaming Mancio [Roberto Mancini] for not deploying them in place of a tired (?) old guard.
‘We cry over the state of youth sectors, but then we defend the growth decree, which allows buying players from abroad, especially foreign ones.
‘The young player must immediately offer convincing answers. Surely in football. If they miss the entrance, it’s pain for them and they are hardly allowed to try again. We want, and Bonucci says it between the lines, experienced youths. We want old youths. Italian football is not for young players.’
Bonucci scored a brace in Juventus’ 2-1 win over Venezia on Sunday, allowing the Old Lady to secure a top-four finish following Roma‘s 0-0 draw against Bologna later in the day. The Italy international has scored five goals this season and his contract at the Allianz Stadium expires in June 2024.