TMW Radio
Guest of the Florentine studios of TMW Radio the president of the Lega Pro, Matteo Marani analyzed the second team project, also in anticipation of possible new arrivals:
“The topic is very broad, they were inserted by sub-commissioner Costacurta in 2018 because Italy did not qualify for the World Cup. It seemed like something impossible, while it happened again in 2022 and that decision was made the day after the elimination from the World Cup. The model is the Spanish one and it is an idea that has been going on for a long time. For the moment, however, it is premature to talk about the impact this project has on the entire Italian football system. It will take at least another five years to achieve this. I always remember that the choice is made by the Federation: Serie C was very open and perhaps it was easier to declare against it but it would have taken away an important possibility.
We then need to see if there will be room for other second teams in the future: last summer there was only one club that did not meet the requirements to register, giving space to Milan. If there is space that becomes free and there is a second team ready, this entry will be considered.
The repechages will take place with the Serie C teams, priority will go to the Serie C teams. We make the lineup available, but in the playoffs players from team A cannot be sent down in any way because it would alter the level of competition. We had to divide the second teams into three groups, we couldn’t allow an unbalanced championship with three second teams in the same group. Behind the scenes you always have to fight.”