Silvio Baldini says Italian football is in the hands of crooks | OneFootball

Silvio Baldini, Italy’s interim head coach, accused some football chiefs of being crooks and railed at limited faith in Serie A’s young players. According to L'Équipe, he spoke on Friday during his only camp in charge this June.

The Under-21 coach criticised clubs for blocking pathways, insisting the federation is not to blame and that Italy’s youth ranks remain among the best. Italy are absent from the World Cup for the third time in a row. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Aged 67, he named a squad built around captain Gianluigi Donnarumma and packed with players aged 21 or under. Italy face Luxembourg on Wednesday at 20:45, then Greece on 7 June at 21:00.

Baldini said the two friendlies could aid his successor and that he had deliberately picked very young players to showcase themselves. He added that he is preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and that Gigio and Pio Esposito will certainly be part of that group.

He also responded to Greece boss Ivan Jovanovic after complaints about meeting an Italy side without its “premium” players. Baldini said he was astonished such remarks were made where democracy was born.

Source: L'Équipe