“I have nothing against the person but Nicolato he had already failed a European Championship. Yet he remained in his place, ready to fail again". Thus Claudius Gentile, interviewed by Free, shoot straight at theUnder 21. The former coach of the Azzurrini who in 2004 they won the Europeans and then they conquered the bronze Olympics speaks of “saints in heaven” di Nicolato.
“I would say very special saints. In my day, recommendations were worth more than merits. It makes me think that around Via Allegri, in Rome, everything has remained the same. Before the European Championship I thought: with these names, the Under 21 team is in the top places. I remain convinced, it was a very strong national team”.
Il flop ofUnder 21Says Dear, “it underlines how sick the Italian football is”. And Gentile has his own idea to get out of it: “I have an idea of my own: the players are in the hands of their agents and this is their problem. I would like to understand why they have such ups and downs or why a talent like Kean allowed himself to leave the Under 21 retreat before these disastrous European Championships... Who advised him? I have never had an agent. Agents ruin football. In the Federation, it seems to me that recommendations are worth more than the actual merits of the people”.
“Everything has remained the same as in my time – Gentile continues – when I was kicked out after I had led the Under 21s to win the European Championship and to win a historic medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Because of certain people within the Federation, I saw my career cut short because I didn't keep my head down. And I didn't listen to the invitations of certain agents who wanted to impose the players in the call-ups. I paid dearly for it. I was kicked out in 2006 when they made me think I would be Lippi's successor. At the Olympics I had lined up and developed six players who then became world champions two years later, including Pirlo, Gilardino, De Rossi and Barzagli. I had some credit for it, right?
Article published on 30 June 2023 - 11:29
