Spalletti: "Messi and Ronaldo? I'm thinking of Calafiori, Cambiaso and Barella. And about Bove I say..."

Raising talents. Building champions. A month before the Azzurri's Nations League match against Germany, coach Luciano Spalletti takes stock of the season, including certainties, hopes and some disappointments.

"Are Maradona, Messi and Ronaldo needed to win? Yes, it's true, great players can provide the solution in a short time, but talent is not just that, which is very strong. There is also a defender like Calafiori who can become one of this level. Cambiaso for example has shown how much he is worth and then the interest of big teams also arrived. Barella is for me a talented player for what he shows in his forays, you can't fence him in".

The Italian coach then wanted to focus on what should become the basic Italian group: "From a point of view of concerns, there is that of seeing those you have in your sights play often. If you don't see them, it's difficult to wait for things full of tension like the national team. For example, I would like to see Chiesa play more or young players who assert themselves in our championship". But there is still time: "You can see Baldanzi or Folorunsho who is doing very well, let's see before issuing the call-ups. This time I think it is possible to bring one or two players more than the usual 23 to give them some experience. This group has certain qualities and can offer the possibility of important growth for the future".

Spalletti's best wishes to Kean after his injury on February 23: "I wish him good luck, also on behalf of the entire Italian Football Federation and all those who love football. I haven't heard from him but the FIGC doctor sent me the diagnosis and spoke to his Fiorentina colleague. We are all waiting for him to start training again, it could happen soon". The coach then responded to a question about Bove's situation, who has had a subcutaneous defibrillator implanted: "I would like the rules to resemble his will. What he wants to do is the best rule and it should give him the opportunity to do what he likes most".