Amidst rumors swirling around the potential transfers of Thiago Motta and Joshua Zirkzee, Bologna director, Claudio Fenucci, has come forward to address the situation, expressing the club’s desire to retain its key players beyond the summer amidst links with top clubs such as Milan, Juventus, and Manchester United.
The Rossoblu currently sit fourth in the Serie A table, their hopes of securing a spot in the 2024-25 Champions League are very much alive. However, with Motta’s contract set to expire in the summer, several top clubs have reportedly shown interest in the experienced coach. Despite this, Fenucci remains optimistic about keeping Motta at the Stadio Dall’Ara for the upcoming season.
What would Bologna’s presence in the Champions League mean?
“Even though we’re trying to avoid it, Bologna in Europe, beyond the Champions League, would be a fantastic sign for Italian football. As Atalanta did in recent years, by establishing a serious club organization, with the right people in the sports area, the coach, and a group exceeding expectations, a different path can be taken, offering a new perspective to many clubs.”
Is it more difficult to keep Motta or Zirkzee?
“The coach has been instrumental in this growth, and we hope both he and the players stay with us. Thiago is extremely happy at Bologna; it’s as if he has a longer contract than he actually does. As for Joshua… We don’t like to talk much about our players’ future; we prefer to live in the present moment, where there is great enthusiasm. However, our intention would be to keep everyone.”
What is the issue with our youth academies?
“The answer is complex. We have a group with many different nationalities, exceptional youngsters, and language and cultural differences have always been overcome. It’s very positive, and I believe it’s one of the reasons behind this season’s success. The number of youth players remains stable, but they play much less, making talent production more complex. It’s challenging to find a suitable path from the youth team to the first team. I’ve been at Roma, where there’s a complex gap to bridge. This issue involves the transition from the training process to the roles of other categories, namely what Serie B and Lega Pro should do. It requires a systemic response to this question, especially considering the increasing number of foreign players.”
What about Lewis Ferguson?
“One of our secrets is the excellent organization both in the sports and technical areas. Ferguson, Calafiori… You can mention individual players, but leaving others behind wouldn’t be fair. There are also more experienced players like Freuler who are contributing. The idea is to retain as many players as possible, but discussing the future today is limiting.”
What needs to happen for the Premier League model to be implemented in Serie A?
“The decision to adopt similar models to other leagues needs to be carefully considered. Serie A has started a study to understand if this model is feasible. It’s evident that Italian football needs restructuring, primarily concerning financial stability. Football must find balance, ensuring fair competition on the field. Regardless of the legal form to adopt, it’s crucial to engage in thoughtful discussions. The initiative stems from Serie A’s desire to have a greater influence in the system, but I believe we need to be proactive internally, even towards political institutions.”
Now, the race for Europe.
“It will be exciting. We’re there, alongside Atalanta… We’re in the mix. We’re not thinking about the final results but focusing on next Friday. We’re heading to a traditionally challenging ground for us (Empoli, note).”
