Italy, Spalletti: Received offers from UAE after Napoli

Luciano Spalletti, the Italian national football team’s technical commissioner, has revealed some behind-the-scenes details during a recent speaking event at Casa Italia.

Regarding the upcoming European Championship, Spalletti reportedly stated, “We’re not in the race just to make up the numbers. We’re heading to Germany to fight on every front. We’re the reigning champions, so it’s natural that we aim for nothing less than we achieved in 2020, even if it will be tough to replicate.”

Spalletti also shared some personal insights into his career, revealing that he viewed Italy from afar while coaching Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. He divulged that he’d received offers from the United Arab Emirates and other leagues after an exceptional stint at Napoli. Regardless of the lucrative financial prospects, he rejected them as it wasn’t the type of football he admired. His dreams are said to have been fulfilled when he received the call to lead The Azzurri.

In terms of talent scouting, Spalletti hinted at a few young players who are being keenly observed, both in and out of Italy. Mentioning Fiorentina’s winger Kayode, Spalletti said he’d previously called him up for the national squad but was left disappointed after the player sustained an injury.

In addition, Luca Koleosho has also been identified as an interesting prospect. As of now, Spalletti and his team are said to be exploring their options by directly evaluating them in person.