Roberto Mancini was spotted in the stands to watch the Primavera derby between Inter and Milan on Monday, signalling that he is keeping a close eye on Italy’s youths after the Azzurri’s World Cup fiasco.
There’s a massive debate on whether Serie A clubs should have more trust in the product of their academies and for this reason, the Italian Government could limit the use of the growth decree, making it available only for players returning to Italy after at least two years spent abroad.
Leonardo Bonucci’s claims about Italy’s young players last week also caused debate in Italy, where fans and media are still trying to understand the reasons why the Azzurri have failed to quality for a second successive World Cup.
Mancini watched the Milan Primavera derby on Monday (2-2) and according to Tuttosport, it’s a clear signal of a new path that the CT wants to take by keeping an eye on more young prospects. It’s a kind of new thing for the CT, who is not accustomed to watching games of youth teams.
To be fair, the Samp legend has never lacked trust in young players. For example, he gave the first call-up to Nicolò Zaniolo in 2018, even before the Roma starlet made his Serie A debut.
However, he was criticised for not using young players enough, especially during the World Cup qualification group and in the game against North Macedonia in March, when he was probably too grateful to players who had won the Euros only a few months earlier.
Mancini, it is time to clean the cobwebs and bring in new and younger players. Use the Euros to build for the qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Italy to seem to do better at the Euros now than they do at the World Cup. This has to be reversed. Experiment with the Euros!
He can go to as many youth team games as he wants if these kids don’t get first team experience in Serie A he can’t call them up.
Better check them up in Serie B rather than the youth teams
Is the youth really good enough? I’m not so sure these days. Although Belotti can go.
@Azzurrofan you are absolutely right. These kids need to play at club level.
Bonuccis claim is what wvery italian shouls be thinking and saying. Why dont more seria a players get behind bonucci and keep this topic going and gaining steam. I love the line media and fans still trying to figure out what happened.its obvious not enouvb italian youth in seria a its all forienger that suck. Why everyo e dance around it. Govt need to stop greedy owners from watering down league so they can maximize profit on foreign players via less tax cheaper buy and bigger sell. This is so cut amd dry.
what’s the use to watch young talented emerging italian players when such young guns do not play regular and not trusted by Serie A coaches as some idiot coaches discourage the idea of starting young players. take for example; coppa italia final total of 5 only 5 italian players at juventus & inter milan! it is not about watching neither talking it is about action. if italian football ever to rise again and return back to its power is to fundamentally change the system. if things do not improve I wouldn’t be surprised if italy failed again to qualify for WC 2026!
There ought to be a development committee to develop the system of the old & useless current situation