Baldini says executives fail Italian football, ‘Fui interrogato’

Italia Under‑21 coach Silvio Baldini told Sky Sport that the squad is full of talent but the real issue lies with football executives, adding that he himself had been questioned by the Procura, saying ‘Fui interrogato dalla Procura’ and stressed that the players are ready to deliver.

Executive deficit hampers Italian football

Silvio Baldini said the Italia Under 21 side possesses good quality players. He argued the main problem is the absence of executives capable of doing things properly. He warned that clubs must invest far more by giving youngsters playing time instead of sending them on loan.

He added that the issue is not the disappearance of youth or talent. He noted that the senior Nazionale maggiore has already introduced young players, creating a fresh atmosphere. Without regular game time, those players cannot improve or progress, he said.

He concluded that football societies should increase investment to let players develop on the pitch, not merely loan them out. This, he said, would allow the talent to flourish and the national programme to thrive.

Artistic vision and collaboration

Baldini described football as primarily emotion, comparing players to artists such as painters and poets who move millions. He insisted they should not chase the sport solely for wealth or popularity, but to spread joy, happiness and personal fulfilment.

He said his collaboration with senior manager Roberto Mancini is based on facts and professionalism, with Mancini leaving the most important youngsters for the Under 21 side because of key fixtures. He also praised Claudio Ranieri for his experience across France, England and Spain, noting Ranieri’s role in linking the senior Nazionale and the Under 21 during the camp in Pescara.

Legal scrutiny and personal reflections

Baldini dismissed the idea of copying the same playing system across all teams, insisting that talent, not tactics, makes the difference and that players should be allowed to enjoy the game without excessive responsibility. He explained that when his side has the ball, the focus must be on scoring and creating emotions, not on idle tricks.

He said many Under 21 players are ready for the senior Nazionale, estimating at least eleven or twelve capable youngsters, though he could not list them individually. He added that physical size should not dominate, citing Messi, Maradona and Pele as examples where technique mattered more than stature.

He recounted being summoned by the Federal Procura after two senior matches, confirming the inquiry was about the “lestofanti” he had mentioned and that it came from a former finance minister. He reflected that the emotional strain of the camp made him feel both eighty years old and, after a few days, forty years younger, and that he often prays for his Under 21 players, hoping they understand his support.