Giacomo Bonaventura didn’t expect it. It’s true that his performance in recent weeks had been declining a bit, but the Fiorentina midfielder – called up in October as in November but also in March – even after the latest indications was convinced of getting on the blue bus to Germany. He didn’t make it, Spalletti preferred Folorunsho in the list of 30 and left him at home despite a season which in terms of goals in Serie A remains the best of his career (as in 2017-18).
People close to the footballer describe a calm reaction after reading about his absence from the list of 30, even though this – at 34 years old – was the last great opportunity to participate in a major event with the national team. His story with the blue shirt actually ended yesterday and it is a story made up of 18 appearances and a systematic exclusion from the competitions that count.
Manuel Locatelli took it worse, a Juventus midfielder who, after reading about the list of 30 players pre-called up, published a story on ‘Instagram’ with a completely black background. Locatelli was certain of being part of the Azzurri group but Spalletti – having established that Jorginho will be the starter and Cristante the alternative – decided to give space in Coverciano to whoever can take up the baton in that role after Germany. So Ricci and Beans.
Unlike Bonaventura, Locatelli was decidedly more disappointed and did nothing to hide it. He, who was among the great protagonists of the 2021 triumph, thought of flying to Germany also because Spalletti had brought him back to the center of the Italian group. But no, he stopped one step away from the finish line.
