Legendary Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro is not surprised that there are no Italian players nominated for the Ballon d’Or this year. The former Juventus and Real Madrid centre-back was the last Italian to win the award in 2006, and speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he explained what he believes needs to happen for the award to one day return to Italy:
Zero Italians. Surprised?
“Unfortunately no. After such a European Championship I expected it. Indeed it’s right. But let’s finish tearing our clothes now: for years we haven’t realized the crisis that affects us. Simply, we need to go back to doing the things that made us win.”
For example?
“Work on young players. But seriously, not filling their heads with tactics, of the action that starts from the goalkeeper, of high pressing… Then some don’t know how to run or jump backwards. And meanwhile the technique becomes impoverished: some in Serie A control the ball in three touches.”
No Italians, but three “Italians” in quotation marks: Lautaro, Calhanoglu and Lookman.
“Lautaro is not debatable, he is Inter’s wealth, he won the Scudetto and the Copa America. He never betrays, even in the national team he always makes the difference. And then he scores, he sacrifices himself, but above all he is hungry. I hope that Inter and Serie A never lose him. When you ask yourself who of our players would play for Real or City, you say Lautaro and maybe no one else…”
Calha is a great playmaker.
“He has remarkable qualities and does well also with Turkey.”
Surprised by Lookman?
“Not after the three goals in the Europa League final. Anyway, his season was incredible.”
To whom would you give the Ballon d’Or?
“To Vinicius or to Bellingham who, however, in the second part of the season, was not up to the first.”
Mbappé in Nations League will take aim against us.
“He’s not coming off a great season, but he’s a phenomenon. He is an obvious candidate. Then there’s Rodri and there’s Carvajal who has won everything: but a defender, to have the Ballon d’Or, must do extraordinary things…”
France-Italy will be less balanced than 2006?
“If we look at France we get chills, but there’s always the possibility that at the beginning of September someone is on vacation with their head. Let’s not forget though that, in recent years, they have dominated.”
To tell the truth there is an Italian, Donnarumma, but goalkeepers are in another ranking.
“Gigio is a phenomenon. He’s always there, at the right moment he doesn’t betray, at the European Championship I don’t know how it would have ended without him. He’s approaching Buffon.”
Another story among coaches: Ancelotti and Gasperini, two out of six, are Italian.
“Two very good and concrete coaches who don’t waste time inventing strange things.”
In the championship will it still be Inter?
“Definitely the favorite, because they haven’t changed anything. The others are all construction sites. Of course I didn’t expect such a turnout from Milan, but August football deceives. It’s clear that there’s confusion: six goals conceded in the same way, it will be the case to work on it, right?”
The mutiny of Theo and Leao?
“It seems to me we’re talking about it too much, thus hiding the real problems. They had just entered, they weren’t thirsty. If the coach needed to talk to them he would have called them.”
Juve are better
“They had a great market, like Juve. Chiesa to Liverpool surprised me, I didn’t expect it. However, after the enthusiasm of the first days, now Motta must insert the big players soon and do it well, otherwise it’s difficult.”
And Cannavaro?
“I’m at home, I follow football, I see Udinese doing very well as I had predicted because they are strong. I had proposals from Nigeria, from Iranian clubs, but until December I want to wait for Italy or, at least, Europe. Then, if necessary, I’ll go back to traveling.”
Meanwhile do you admire your Ballon d’Or?
“I’m sincere: I’ve put aside the past, it was beautiful, but today I’m focused on my work as a coach”
