Serie A: "Our youth is not getting regular games in the league" (C. Prandelli, coach)

"It was thought that the presence of many foreigners (Serie A) would stimulate our young lads, but we’ve seen that things have not gone that way. We need to reflect on this," said Italy national team coach Cesare Prandelli, at a press conference on the 03/09/2013.

"We need to study and plan. If I were a club president, I would think about working with youngsters and bringing them through into the first team, rounding things off with foreign players, but only good foreign players," explained the man managing the "Squadra Azzurra" since 2010/11.

"We must not abandon our youth, and we’re not going to abandon them, but we’ve also got to see the reality. They are struggling and we need to work out why. They’re not getting regular games in the league and they are not finding any continuity," added the former Fiorentina coach (2005/2010).

• Out of the 28 players selected by Cesare Prandelli for the match against Bulgaria, on the 06/09/2013, for the 2014 World Cup play-offs, five (17.8%) play abroad:
  • Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Thiago Motta…