Trento Festival reveals challenges of Alvini, Gattuso and Bove's return

In the heart of Trento, the microphones of.com captured the echo of voices coming from pitches, locker rooms and stands, as the 2026 Sports Festival closed with a succession of anecdotes, projects and statements that shone a light on the future of Italian football.

Massimiliano Alvini's revelations

Massimiliano Alvini, coach of Frosinone, recounted the 2‑0 victory over Cesc Fabregas's Como, describing the journey as “long” but emphasizing the importance of a team identity capable of scoring against anyone. “Trying to score goals and reach victory regardless of the opponent,” he added, highlighting the mindset he wants to instill in his club.

Alvini then praised the young striker Antonio Raimondo, who scored five goals in six matches across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. “He has notable technical qualities and characteristics, he is on a development path, he is promising, he attacks space,” he said, adding that coach Castagnini has chosen him as Bologna’s primary attacking option.

Testimonies from former champions

The stage hosted Massimo Carrera, Angelo Di Livio, Moreno Torricelli, Michelangelo Rampulla, Angelo Peruzzi, Michele Padovano, Ciro Ferrara and Gianluca Pessotto, all intent on recalling the golden era and the last Champions League won. Carrera praised Marcello Lippi, calling him “the person who made us believe we could win the Champions in many ways.”

Padovano recalled Gianluca Vialli, describing his act of filming the team before the 2‑0 semifinal against Real Madrid, to ease tension and allow the players to take the field calmly.

Lorenzo Palmisani, Italian Under‑21 goalkeeper, was described as “a player with top‑level technical qualities.” After replacing an injured goalkeeper at Monza, he played forty matches excellently, also establishing himself in Serie A and promising to become a new reference point for Italy.

Edoardo Bove spoke about his long absence from football due to an illness that occurred on 1 December 2024. After signing with Watford, he marked his return to the pitch in January 2026, 506 days after his last goal, describing the emotion of entering an English stadium “two centimetres” from the fans.

Rino Gattuso explained why he accepted the role at Lazio, citing an “incredible blow” suffered with the national team and the desire to start anew. He also described his relationship with president Claudio Lotito, calling him “a genius” with whom one can discuss the team’s dynamics openly.

Finally, the festival featured a comment from Sneijder, who “snubbed” the Ballon d’Or, sparking curiosity among those present about his true opinion of football’s most coveted award.