World Cup winner Marco Tardelli names Nicolò Barella, Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo as the players Italy must rebuild from. ‘There won’t be another block of Juventus players.’

The Azzurri are in flux after winning the European Championship and then failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Their results in the Nations League have been mixed, beating Hungary 2-1, drawing with Germany and England, but also losing 5-2 in Monchengladbach.

Speaking to news agency ANSA at a sponsorship event, 1982 World Cup winner Tardelli was asked if Italy are suffering from the lack of a block of Juventus players who are accustomed to each other.

“It’s not there now and never will be again, more than anything Juve have a block of foreign players,” he replied.

“Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori play together for Sassuolo, which is hardly a team that has international experience.”

So who should Roberto Mancini look to in order to rebuild the next era of the Azzurri?

“Barella, Zaniolo and Tonali,” said Tardelli.

Inter midfielder Barella already has 39 senior Italy caps, whereas Milan man Tonali has just broken into the main squad.

Roma forward Zaniolo saw his career stalled by two devastating knee injuries, but still scored two goals in nine caps.

13 thought on “Tardelli: ‘Italy must rebuild from Barella, Zaniolo and Tonali’”
  1. Barella, unfortunately does not bring to Italy the same intensity and desire he has when he plays for Inter and should not be guaranteed a starting spot unless he is in form FOR Italy. As for a Juventus block, I would not be discounting on Chiesa, Locatelli, Gatti getting in the starting line up and eventually the promising Miretti, Fagioli and Rovella.

  2. Tardelli is a legend! Name another player who could defend, play in midfield, and go forward as brilliantly as he could?

  3. It’s hard to disagree with what Frankie said. Barella and others such as Jorginho and Insigne should not be automatic starters.

    Barella is a shadow of the player we see at Inter. Is it tactical, fatigue or another case of a player who cannot replicate their club form?

  4. Zaniolo is not much reliable. While we are waiting for Chiesa, here is the team for the next fixtures in September.

    Montipò (Carnesecchi)

    Cambiaso (Darmian) Gatti (Ghilardi) Bastoni (Okoli) Spinazzola (Udogie)

    Barella (Tonali) Veratti (Ricci) Pellegrini (Fagioli)

    Cambiaghi (Zaniolo) Scamacca (Balotelli) Gnonto (Zaccagni)

  5. IF you really want to rebuild a team CT must focus on one main group (line up) including substitutes. then only they will build a team and play like a team. football is a team game. I f you bring a different lineup for each match you cannot build a team.

  6. Barella plays really inconsistently and is very immature the way he conducts himself on the pitch , his body language (always moping with his head down or making nasty glances at his teammates or the ref) says it all if things aren’t going his way and then becomes a liability committing some ridiculous foul. He’s definitely not a leader or commanding of respect and if he doesn’t think the National team should be ashamed of its performance against Germany then he delusional and has no pride either.

  7. For you people who are criticising Barella, you are clueless.

    In an era where dynamism and power are so important, he is #1 in the team for those attributes.

    He is our top goal scorer since Mancini has been in charge, and he is a midfielder who defends more than any player on the team.
    You can’t ask him to do every single role on the pitch whilst others walk around.

    Remember, you are only as good as your teammates. He has players around him who aren’t technically gifted. It is difficult to play with players like that.

    On top of that, the players are fried. They have played 60+ games without a break.

    Football is about small margins. Germany are not 5 times better than Italy, games like this can happen. Look at teams like France, England and Portugal losing to inferior teams.

    Stop talking, none of you are experts and have probably never played the game competitively.

  8. Barella & Zaniolo? Seriously? Barella do not deserves to be a starter in the team, He has been the worst player in the team since the starting of Euro.

  9. Will all my respect to Tardelli, Barella is not the player to depend on. Tonali, Locatelli and Pellegrini proved are the best for the national team, and the Azzuri must build on.

  10. I totally agree with Tardelli. Throw in Pellegrini and Chiesa and you got the making of a great team.

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