There have been calls from some sections of the AC Milan fan base to increase the amount of Italian influence in the squad, but a report has suggested that it could in fact be further cut.
According to this morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan), two players above all are at risk out of the already small Azzurri group: midfielder Tommaso Pobega and the full-back (and captain) Davide Calabria.
The Rossoneri management are looking for a new right-back and the starting spot is currently held by Calabria, who is reportedly negotiating a renewal but at the moment his situation is on stand-by because of his requests for a pay rise.
For Pobega it is another story. After a season complicated by an injury there is the risk that he will not get the playing time he needs to keep developing, while there is interest from clubs like Fiorentina that mean he could be sold for a capital gain.
Matteo Gabbia, Filippo Teracciano, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Sportiello are the only other Italians that are in the senior squad, and it is striking that there is no player from Milan that is currently with Luciano Spalletti’s side at the European Championship.
Calabria and Pobega are similar in many ways as they came through the entire youth sector of Milan and did so as boyhood fans of the club, eventually making their senior debut.
Apparently, today is 10 year anniversary of the last time Italy played a game in a World Cup.
As usual, focusing on convenient facts to justify the current poor policy of the club. Next month is the 4th anniversary of Italy being crowned Euro champion.
Yeah but the world cup is vastly more important. Poor policy? Of what? Choosing winners like those in the French National Team? That poor policy?
Oh and look at the most recent Spain vs Italy game. Spain ran circles around Italy and Italy barely had one half chance.
Italian talent isn’t there.
Did you even watch the Spain game? That was terrible football. It’s literally been ten years since Italy played good football
I did. Reread my post. I said Italy played horribly.
That’s the point. Since 2006 Italy hasn’t produced the next golden generation.
Convenient or inconvenient, it is still a fact.
Nice try Bartholomeo, 2 years since Italy couldn’t beat N Macedonia and failed to qualify for a World Cup
Some here want us to sign whatever Italian player we can, even though it would be a detriment to our overall form. Take Spain vs Italy. There isn’t a single Italian player on that pitch I’d want starting at Milan. Not One!
The only players worth mention are at Inter.
Good.
Italy just isn’t what they used to be.
Less and less talent.
Thus for their few good players remain, they are over priced as hell.
A bit of balance would be good, you can’t just dismiss all Italians as not being up to it, we are an Italian team and a core of Italians would be very pleasing, even just a starting CB, Buongiorno, a midfielder, Ricci, and a striker, Lucca or even just give some of our youth a try, Colombo/Nasti.
Many will disagree, but imo having an Italian core gives us identity and character which right now Inter have and we don’t. Some would be happy to have unknown moneyball french players to support, I would rather support local talent, even if it is few and far between.
I’d rather have players that are winners. Not just sign Italian players for the sake of it. Unknown French players? The French players we currently have aren’t unknown, including arguably the best left back in the world.
Haha typical mindset of tv fan who only seek for glory.
Calabria i think still equal to darmian or di lorenzo , but thats still not enough for italy NT. There is still promising italian player that fit with fonzy 433 or 4231 like calafiori ( Can play CB & LB ) , bungiorno ( CB ) , Casadei ( AMF / CMF ) , Scamacca ( CF ) . If ACM sign zirkzee then casadei behind him will be good combination
Bruh, choosing darmian over calabria is no brainer coz he can play multiple role and good at it. He even can play as cb and still deliver good performance.
Caldara ?
We don’t need “token” Italians at Milan. We need Italians who make a difference. Pobega, Flo and Calabria ain’t it. (unless we keep them to fill the quota)
If, say, Fik goes to NUFC and we can land Cala/BuonG in place then, we’ll have Italians that matter.
less Italian deserved SerieA big clubs or those clubs doesn’t like to have Italian?
players who make club big or club who make the players big?
who is Pirlo, Gattuso, Nesta before Milan?
Inzaghi before Juve, Barella before Inter,
Daniel Maldini (Totti/ Del Piero of this era) what happen to him?
even w/ less Italian, serieA clubs doing not so good in Europe, or maybe because their big clubs care about business more than their National players?
who knows?
Nesta already captain lazio and won scudetto with them. Inzaghi already score a lot of banger before juve in piacenza and barella called everyday by diego simeone bagging him to join atletico before inter.
Daniel Maldini is victim of his father relationship with this management. He probably mid, but he still will be sold even if he good player.