A clear call for Italian football to focus more on youth development and the courage to launch young players. Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), addresses the issue of giving space to new generations in the Serie A championship, drawing on a concrete example from the field.
"Should we invest more in young people in football? I don't presume to think like entrepreneurs, because all the presidents of Serie A football teams are entrepreneurs. Clearly, beyond their sporting goals, they also have a financial objective, clearly that of making the numbers add up," he explained on the sidelines of the presentation of the 2025 Sport Report at the Foro Italico.
Then comes the passage that sparks the debate. "From a sporting perspective, I saw Napoli play last night, and Vergara impressed me. So perhaps it's worth investing more in youth development, perhaps by requiring at least three Under-21 and Under-22 players to play every match. I'm wondering, and then maybe someone will answer."
The words of the Italian sports leader enter into a long-running debate about the limited use of young talent at top clubs and the difficulty of creating a stable pathway between the youth sector and the first team. Buonfiglio doesn't offer rigid solutions, but launches a provocative message designed to spark discussion among managers, coaches, and federations: transforming the development of young players from a technical choice to a structural principle of the system.
Napoli also bid farewell to the Coppa Italia: Como wins on penalties.
Como will face Inter in the Coppa Italia semifinal. At the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the Como team eliminated Napoli after a lengthy penalty shootout, ending 7-6 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Butez's decisive save on Lobotka's final spot kick ended the Azzurri's dream and gave Fabregas' team a historic achievement.
The match had been deadlocked for long stretches, with both teams more concerned with keeping their opponents out of the way than with striking. The deadlock was shattered by an incident in the 36th minute, when Smolcic went down in the penalty area after a collision with Olivera. Referee Manganiello pointed to the spot, and Baturina made no mistake, calmly scoring the score to 0-1. Toward the end of the half, Napoli protested for a challenge on Hojlund on the edge of the penalty area, but the referee let it go.
Napoli, Vergara: "I was absolutely certain it was a penalty. Winning like this is worth double, let's not give up."
The rush under the away end, the adrenaline still pumping, and the voice of someone who knows they've given their all. Antonio Vergara savors Napoli's victory at Marassi, achieved in stoppage time and with a man down, and recounts the weight of those final minutes. "I was absolutely certain it was a penalty. It was important to win even with a man down, it's worth double."
Words that reek of revenge and character, because the match had become complicated and the Azzurri had to grit their teeth until the last ball. "We don't give an inch, we're a fantastic group and it shows every moment. When someone makes a mistake, we're there to comfort them. We need to bounce back and stay united."
Vergara: "The blue jersey doesn't weigh you down. I play for my people."
Napoli - "I don't feel the weight of the blue jersey: I play for my people." Antonio Vergara spoke to Radio CRC, a partner station of SSC Napoli, revealing his personality and dedication to the blue colors. A strong bond with the fans, which represents a decisive motivation for the young striker: "The fans for us…
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Investing in young players is an interesting idea, but there are several issues to consider. Football clubs sometimes don't have the time to develop young players if they want to win immediately, so it's complicated.