Italy coach Luciano Spalletti spoke about the ‘difficult night’ for the squad after Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo withdrew amidst the ongoing betting scandal.
The pair were questioned by police at Coverciano last night after being implicated in the growing Serie A betting scandal, which was kickstarted by reports involving Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who reportedly placed over €100,000 in bets across 18 months.
Tonali and Zaniolo both admitted to gambling on illegal platforms to investigators but were firm in their claims that they were playing poker and blackjack, not betting on football games. They also stated that they didn’t discuss this with Fagioli.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia via Calciomercato.com, Spalletti was first asked what he said to Tonali and Zaniolo.
“It was another difficult night, in another sense. When you have to bring home important results there is a bit of waiting, a bit of anxiety in going to play.
“This was a different night because there was a lot of bitterness, the whole team was close to them. They were sorry, we will continue to be close to them even after the spotlight goes down, now they have all the lights on them.
“Then it’s right to help them defend themselves for what the facts and events are, then it’s also correct that justice follows its path, if irregular things have happened it’s right to pay.
“Gravina’s words have clarified everything, we all agree with him and with Minister Abodi on the risk of falling into these temptations.
“We must make an effort to raise awareness, to talk to young people about these pitfalls, to find a way to make them pay particular attention to what is happening in the world.”
The Italy coach was also asked whose decision it was to send the pair home from Coverciano.
“It’s not nice to go looking for who made the decision… If it’s correct, whoever made it made it… It’s a correct decision based on what happened, we can’t bring two shocked kids for what happened in a match like this.
“What was decided was correct, the words said were correct. Then we go to play and remain a very strong team even without two champions.
“Zaniolo showed us in this week that if cleaned up from some vices on the pitch he is an extraordinary footballer, who always has the knockout blow in his feet. Tonali has that strength and that consistency…
“I hope to see them again as soon as possible, to be able to train them again as soon as possible. But the others are equally strong, I have infinite team potential. We cannot train excuses, either I win or I am at a lower level than what Italy deserves.”
Finally, Spalletti was asked if the Italy squad were calm and focused ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier with Malta.
“We must be happy to wear this shirt, it’s sad to see that the potential isn’t given to everyone. We are the ones chosen by luck to have the chance to be at the top in this job and in daily life, because we have all the attention of all people.
“We have the opportunity to show what values, what intelligence we have. We have a duty to recognize what has been given to us. Then it is clear that we can always make mistakes, but there we must take things to become better and better.”
Ya cuz their six figure salaries are not enough they have to bet on games too. Greedy
First Chiesa, now Tonali and Zaniolo…who’s next ?
The words of a warrior’s general.
Either I win or I’m at a….
We will win with the spirit and soul of a warrior and the calming nature of a humble man
What a gong show this team is poor guy to have to deal with his now