He spoke at “1 Football Club”, a radio show broadcast on 1 Station Radio Claudio AnellucciFIFA agent. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
Is Federico Chiesa close to Napoli?
“I don’t know. I knew Juventus wanted to keep Federico. I think there was a discussion between his entourage and the new owners. There, perhaps, something went wrong. A request for an extension was close. The gap between supply and demand was considerable and, if there are rumours about an approach to Napoli, it means that the negotiations were not profitable”
Why does Italy produce champions in all sports and only in football does it not use them?
“I have had several problems, in my career, precisely on this topic. I was fired on the spot for criticizing the elimination of the Under 21 from the European Championship. It is an embarrassing football, which starts from Coverciano. Once we had the best coaches in the world, we dominated football. Today, there is so much confusion, even in the hierarchies. It all seems to have been reduced to a question of power, even though it is still sport. When I began my battle on the youth sectors 15 years ago, I could not understand the lack of Italian talent in those sectors. I asked myself questions, and today I see the answers. When you make a disaster like today’s, you have to be good at it, as our managers have been
Is it possible to think of some big names for the Italian market?
“No, absolutely not. Just think, for example, that in 2000-2001, we were first in Europe in terms of rights sales. Today, in 2024, we have the Premier League which is first, the Liga which is second, the Bundesliga third and Ligue 1 fourth. Turkey is also ahead of us. I challenge anyone to do worse than our managers in twenty years”
Whoever signs Zaniolo is getting a deal?
“Who will take him, first of all? Atalanta? Do you think such a farsighted club could spend the figures we read about? Ours is a sick football, which must change starting from the football schools. If you have to pay a thousand euros per child, what kind of football school is it? Today, we are adrift. If we blame Spalletti, nothing will change. The fish stinks from the head. If you don’t set rules, like a maximum of two foreigners per club or the obligation to only have Italians in the lower categories, all this fuss about the quotas risks only complicating life, to do nothing in the end”
Is there a market for Osimhen?
“In my opinion, Napoli is in a bind and risks being left holding the baby. When, halfway through the season, you declare that the player will leave, you raise the bar. However, the price is set by the buyer. Furthermore, we know how little Conte likes to have unstable situations in his teams”
