TMW exclusive
“Serie A is beautiful, having such a short league table makes our championship very exciting.” Talk like this Stefano Antonelliattorney and market operator, who a TuttomercatoWeb.com analyzed the situation of the big teams: “The tournament still seems a bit in its infancy, especially for the big teams, who haven’t found continuity. Inter have a very important team, but with Conte, Napoli has filled the gap from the point of given the organization of the game and the mentality. Milan, on the other hand, has its ups and downs, but they won against Real Madrid and got out of a particular situation.”
How do you see the others?
“Fiorentina seemed to be suffering, then they kicked off. Atalanta is doing very well as always, if they stay this way until March we have to consider them seriously for many objectives. Bologna got back on track, Italiano took a while , now the progress is wonderful. Udinese have started very well, they are a lively team, they have talent. Behind them are Lecce, Venezia, Verona and Genoa who are struggling a bit. Italian football will perhaps have less quality than a time, but at an international level we always have our say.”
Is Ranieri the right man for Roma right now?
“He is the right person, he absolutely is, but De Rossi would have been too. Evidently a spell had been broken within the ownership with Daniele himself. Ranieri has always represented Rome with his seriousness, his charisma and his composure, but De Rossi represents the same thing. He wasn’t recalled, so it’s right that he was appointed.”
The situation remains very complicated. What was missing until Juric’s dismissal?
“The idea that I have is a bit like that of the common fan. There is no communication, even we insiders struggle to understand what the real project of this property is. The maximum level of non-planning has been reached, I think that the Friedkins could change direction and make use of the help of football people, consultants and advisors. Algorithms can be of support, but they must not be the only things. The square is followed, it is a very serious thing, which is not there is an interlocutor a I think Rome is the first time in history.”
From coaches to players. Not only in Italy. Even abroad, local talents like Destiny Udogie stand out.
“He will turn 22 at the end of November, he is particularly young and has a footballing life ahead of him. We are at more than 35 games as a starter at Tottenham, that’s a lot, it means he is above average. He still has a lot to grow and can improve a lot.”
Mandragora however returned from injury. As your contract expires in 2026, can you clarify what your plans are for the future?
“Rolando has shown incredible character, he returned to the pitch 35 days after meniscus surgery and he did it well. At Fiorentina there is competition, it’s true, but this means that there is an important staff, it’s a team who has a series of variables and possible protagonists in the middle of the pitch. Palladino immediately gave him a shirt… Since the Viola are busy on three fronts, there will be room for everyone, alternation is normal a detail at the moment, but it won’t become a topic, but now he must only focus on Fiorentina.”
At Milan, however, he has several promising guys, one above all Liberals.
“There are D’Alessio, Magni, Mancioppi and Liberali. There is a lot of talk about Mattia because he is an incredible talent, who has already sent incredible signals. He is growing with the right methodology, the club is understanding how to better manage energy because these The guys clearly play a bit in the first team, a bit in the second team and a bit in the Youth League with the Primavera. Sooner or later there will be more clarity and more important solutions. They are respected above all by Fonseca, but patience is needed “.
Pisa, Sassuolo and Spezia fly to Serie B. Will they compete for direct promotion?
“I follow the cadet championship with particular attention, which is beautiful and exciting and where many, many young people play, which is a very important thing. Pisa has built and worked to make a winning team and has put a coach on the bench who is a “Excellence for the category. Sassuolo has maintained an incredible team, they are very strong, we will see these two there all the way. The real big surprise is Spezia, who plays great football and has strong young players. D’Angelo has succeeded to work really well, while Melissano is proving to be the new one who is advancing in the management world because he is really good. Then there is Palermo who is struggling a little, while in Cremona they have lost a bit of clarity due to the confusion that exists, but if they will play it to the end.”
Did Frosinone expect him to be in last place?
“He is struggling strangely and to my great surprise. There is another fantastic manager like Angelozzi there, he will get them out of this situation because he is someone who knows how to do his job. Last year they were relegated to the last day by playing football and expressing things important, the rest is all very in line”.
Sampdoria and Salernitana are two other important teams in difficulty.
“The Campania team started with corporate difficulties, the president Iervolino, who is a great entrepreneur, was disappointed with the system and had abandoned the football project a bit, then he got back on track. The team is very good, but they start at a disadvantage. I feel very sorry for Martusciello, who is a football connoisseur, but there are unwritten rules in this sport and the coach pays when there are no results, although for me he only suffered a negative moment Sampdoria is an incredible place, there is enormous passion, it has also changed ownership, which is now solid and they had a charismatic coach like Pirlo, but even for him the law of football is not forgiving and now they are trying to find a balance It’s easy even if your name is Sampdoria to get a result, but I still don’t understand why it’s difficult.”