President of the AIC Damiano Tommasi believes Italian clubs must put more trust in youth players and long-term vision if the game is to progress.
The chief of the Italian Footballers’ Association has criticised clubs for putting short-term aims ahead of long-term projects.
President of the AIC Damiano Tommasi believes Italian clubs must put more trust in youth players and long-term vision if the game is to progress.
The chief of the Italian Footballers’ Association has criticised clubs for putting short-term aims ahead of long-term projects.
“The main problem is the [lack of proper] sporting projects,” Tommasi has told Radio Anch-io lo Sport.
“Unfortunately at clubs and in general the medium to long-term isn’t considered, and you can’t gain any perspective.
“We should be preparing in the right way to secure the future of our game, but the sporting projects are so off-the-cuff it doesn’t help growth.
“It almost seems as though sporting concerns are overshadowed by economic concerns, when they should be the priority, the most important thing.
“They’re more important than TV deals, and shouldn’t be pushed into the background.”
The former Roma midfielder also called on clubs to blood youngsters, rather than relying on foreign imports.
“We at the AIC think that open borders have been good for Italian football.
“The problem with foreigners on the field is to with what I was speaking about before – it’s quicker to bring in a foreigner who wasn’t brought through at the club than a youth player, because it takes time and faith.
“This is the choice you make as a club. Players are missing the step-up from the youth team to the first team that is truly important for their football education.”