Ciro Immobile has no doubts that the future of football lies with young people: during the inauguration of the Immobile Academy in Torre Annunziata, the Besiktas striker expressed his pride in a project designed to offer young players a concrete opportunity for athletic development.
"We often talk about expectations and the lack of facilities in Italy. Our country needed a facility like this. The talent is there, and it's important to get the kids back on the pitch, away from phones and sofas ," he told Sky Sport. Immobile took advantage of the international break to return to the topic of the Azzurri, which he wore with pride for years.
“Playing for Italy has always been a thrill. I think about the European Championship victory, the beautiful moments I experienced with the national team. Today the Azzurri are challenging Germany and we know that the Germans always talk before matches, but then the story is often different, especially on their home soil. Good luck to the Azzurri and to Spalletti . ”
Immobile expressed his confidence in Italy's new attack, led by Kean and Retegui: "They're two different strikers, but both important. They can compete for a spot in every match ." And regarding another Italy-Germany match, the one in Euro 2016 that ended on penalties, he didn't hide his disappointment: "It still hurts. I remember the tears of players like Barzagli. We had created a united group, and losing like that was incredibly hard . "
Immobile on Napoli, Lazio and the Scudetto fight
Immobile also spoke about Serie A and Antonio Conte 's impact on the Napoli bench: "When Napoli plays well, people here live for football, it changes their day, their lives. Conte has brought back the passion that had been somewhat lost. They can fight until the end ." Regarding the Scudetto race, the striker knows the two protagonists well: "Inzaghi and Conte? Two crazy guys, two madmen. I've been lucky enough to work with both of them, they're meticulous, obsessed with winning, you can see it on the pitch . "
And on his former team Lazio, he comments: “He’s entertaining, even non-fans watch his games. He’s had a physical decline, but he can bounce back, especially in Europe .” After a top-level career in Italy, Immobile is enjoying a new experience at Besiktas. Regarding Turkish football, he explains: “It’s similar to Spanish and Portuguese football. Even less famous teams can make things difficult for you . ”
Led by a former striker like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Immobile says he's satisfied: "I'm happy, he still has a player's mentality. His training methods are very English ." And what about the future? The idea of becoming a coach isn't immediately on his mind: "I'm still in player mode. Almost all great coaches have been midfielders, with Inzaghi being the only exception. We'll see, it's too early to think about it . "
