Italy World Cup winner insists the Azzurri have ‘lost their identity’ | OneFootball

Italy World Cup winner Alessandro Nesta insists the Azzurri have lost their identity as we ‘started copying others’ and clubs ‘lost interest in young players.’

Nesta examined the state of Italian football from New York, where he met fans alongside other Calcio legends, such as Christian Vieri.

Nesta: Italy have lost their identity

The Azzurri have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

“After us, there was a void, no success apart from the Euros,” Nesta told Gazzetta.

“We were part of an incredible generation, and we also won. Today, there are no longer iconic players like those in our group, and obviously, results influence judgment.”

How does he explain the downfall of Italian football?

“Several factors contributed. We lost our Italian identity and started copying others, and at the same time, clubs lost interest in young players,” Nesta replied.

“It must also be said that clubs aren’t protected: they might invest in youngsters for years only to see them taken away. If we truly want to focus on youth academies, new protective laws are also needed. And alongside this, players must be given the freedom to express themselves.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Haris Tabakovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Today there are too many tactics; even at 12-13 years old, they talk about systems and formations when they should be developing flair and dribbling,” Nesta continued.

“Today, if you’ll excuse the term, we’re raising battery chickens, all the same, good at passing but without creativity.”

The popularity of Serie A has also decreased in recent years, with the Premier League becoming the most important league in Europe.

MONZA, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: Alessandro Nesta, Head Coach of AC Monza, looks on ahead of the Serie A match between Monza and Juventus at U-Power Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Things go hand in hand. The national team loses interest because it doesn’t win, and top players are drawn to other leagues, whereas once everyone’s dream was Serie A,” Nesta concluded.

“We haven’t managed to build a league that stands on its own two feet; we are spoiled children of families like Berlusconi, Moratti, Sensi. Since then, we haven’t evolved, especially in terms of stadiums and infrastructure, unlike what they’ve managed elsewhere.”