Italy coach Luciano Spalletti names eight emerging players for Italy, including Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, who is ‘ready for the national team’ and criticises Super League plans: ‘We are losing the amazement to see David beating Goliath.’
The Azzurri coach gave his first interview of 2024 to Rai 2, explaining his plans for Italy’s future in the year of the European Championship.
“My duty is to look, observe and find out all that can make people celebrate,” he said as quoted by Repubblica.
“Players like Kayode, Ranieri, Koleosho and Casadei have emerged. We’ve been monitoring them for a while. Bove is a certainty and I’ve liked Lucca’s behaviour lately. Then Prati and Calafiori. The latter is a certainty in the middle [of defence] and on the left and is ready for the national team.”
Calafiori, a product of Roma academy, joined Bologna from Basel in the summer of 2023 and has made 17 appearances across all competitions this season under Thiago Motta.
“The qualification to Euro 2024 is like a voice that rises from the bottom of the pit where we had fallen, which shouts to the world that we are here too and we are more alive than ever,” continued the CT.
“It allows us to go to Germany to defend the title we won in 2021, but there is still much work to do.”
Spalletti’s 2023 was certainly unforgettable as he won his first Serie A title as a coach, leading Napoli to a long-awaited Scudetto, their first one in 33 years. He was appointed as Italy’s head coach to replace Roberto Mancini only a few months after his triumph at the Stadio Maradona.
So, what’s the difference between Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina?
“They are like night and day. One is an entrepreneur and the other is a man of football,” Spalletti replied.
“Of course, they have different approaches, but they are doing important things for our football. What I like the most is that Gravia immediately put me at ease, proving his respect and putting the youths and the values of Italian football to the core.”
FIGC have recently confirmed their opposition to the Super League and Spalletti backs the federation’s stance.
“It is the fruit of a world where we are losing the amazement to see David beating Goliath,” the Azzurri coach said.
“We are losing the nice smell and flavours of the past. Those of the tradition and people celebrating around a flag. It’s like the tomorrow is only written by those who have power. Somebody wants to impose which one is the only football worth watching. They haven’t understood that people will continue picking the football they are most passionate about until there is a ball and enough space for two goals.”
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