Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), has once again voiced his concerns about the development of young talent in Italian clubs. In a recent interview with Messaggero Veneto, Gravina specifically pointed to Francesco Camarda’s situation at AC Milan as an example of the broader issue.
Discussing Italy’s prospects for the next World Cup, Gravina stated, “Being there at the next one is a concern of mine. I missed one as president, the 2022 one, although they attribute the previous one to me as well. Just participating in a World Cup for a country is a showcase, a reason for people to come together. But the prospects are good, it will be important to do well in the Nations League for the ranking and to have a better draw in the qualifications.”
Gravina expressed pride in the recent performances of Italy’s youth teams, saying, “In the last five years of our governance, we have had the best results in youth teams. From the Under-20s to the Under-19s, up to our pride: the Under-17 National Team, the symbol of a project. Those boys beat the very strong Portugal 3-0 in intensity and play. It won’t be long before Italy returns to being a reference with the senior national team, returning to the restricted circle of world greats.”
However, Gravina’s most pointed comments were directed at how Italian clubs, particularly AC Milan, handle young talents. He criticized, “We have the talents, but it’s regrettable to see how often they are not used by the clubs. I’m thinking of Camarda at Milan. Talent needs opportunities, abroad they give them.”
