{"id":796254,"date":"2026-07-31T22:28:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T22:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/796254\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T22:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T22:28:14","slug":"spalletti-vicious-italy-tried-updating-with-maldini-but-stuck-with-old-phone-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/796254\/","title":{"rendered":"Spalletti vicious : ‘Italy tried updating with Maldini, but stuck with old phone instead’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MILAN,<\/p>\n

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Luciano Spalletti explains how he sees Kerim Alajbegovic playing in his Juventus and takes a sideswipe at Italy after Roberto Mancini\u2019s return. \u2018It\u2019s like trying to update a phone that is outdated.\u2019<\/p>\n

The coach spoke to reporters following this evening\u2019s 2-0 friendly victory over OGC Nice<\/a>, with goals from Douglas Luiz and Justin Oboavwoduo.<\/p>\n

\"LECCE,LECCE, ITALY \u2013 MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

This squad is far from complete, as negotiations are at an advanced stage to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain and Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen.<\/p>\n

The Bosnia and Herzegovina talent\u2019s arrival raised some questions as to how he could play with Kenan Yildiz, Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao in the side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are right now lacking a centre-forward who holds up the ball and a trequartista who can feed it to him,\u201d Spalletti told reporters in the mixed zone.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cKolo Muani is quite a complete striker, as he can drop deep and combine with the midfielders, he can attack the space, has played wide too. I see Alajbegovic as more of a trequartista behind the striker.\u201d<\/p>\n

That would suggest Kenan Yildiz remaining wide left and a potential 4-2-3-1 formation, although Alajbegovic can play in those winger roles too.<\/p>\n

Spalletti unimpressed with Italy changes\"SASSUOLO,SASSUOLO, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 06: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Juventus and Giovanni Carnevali Ceo of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Spalletti took the Juventus job in October 2025, just under four months after he was sacked from the Italy bench.<\/p>\n

The Azzurri struggled since his departure, going through Gennaro Gattuso and caretaker manager Silvio Baldini, then finally having Mancini return this week.<\/a><\/p>\n

The position of technical director was meant to be for Paolo Maldini, who resigned within three weeks to make way for Claudio Ranieri.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaldini certainly represented something new, which was absolutely needed,\u201d noted Spalletti.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like trying to update the firmware on a phone that is outdated, it just didn\u2019t work. Instead of buying a new phone, we just stuck with the old one and didn\u2019t update it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ItalyItaly technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malag\u00f2 and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it)<\/p>\n

So are Ranieri and Mancini the right men to get Italy back on track?<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t know that. Maldini represented going into fourth gear and flying up the road, but instead we\u2019ve gone back into second gear.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n


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