New Italy CT Giampiero Ventura confirms he’ll ask Andrea Barzagli to reconsider his international retirement.
The Juventus centre-back announced before Euro 2016 that he’d retire from the Azzurri, but the new man on the bench wants him to have a role.
“I haven’t spoken to Barzagli yet, but if I want to pick up where Conte left off it’s clear that he’s a player who suits the national team,” Ventura explained in his presentation Press conference.
New Italy CT Giampiero Ventura confirms he’ll ask Andrea Barzagli to reconsider his international retirement.
The Juventus centre-back announced before Euro 2016 that he’d retire from the Azzurri, but the new man on the bench wants him to have a role.
“I haven’t spoken to Barzagli yet, but if I want to pick up where Conte left off it’s clear that he’s a player who suits the national team,” Ventura explained in his presentation Press conference.
“If you ask me about a player who is over 33 or 34 like Barzagli, he can be important now but you can’t think it’ll be the same in four years.
“Today there are players who can make a contribution, those who come after – like [Alessio] Romagnoli – can grow.
“The reality of our League is the one the Euros showed us. There weren’t many players who were left at home, almost everyone was called.
“There are many youngsters on the launchpad, but we play against France on September 1 and I see them [the players] three days beforehand.
“The starting point will be where we left-off at the Euros, but I’m someone who champions youngsters.”