Spalletti Calls for Serie A Youth Quota After Italy's World Cup Exclusion
Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has proposed a radical rule change for Serie A, suggesting every club should be mandated to field one Under-19 player in their matchday squad. The call comes in the wake of Italy's failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, a result Spalletti admitted he took "very badly." Speaking after his team's 2-0 victory over Genoa, the coach linked the national team's struggles directly to a lack of opportunities for young Italian talent in the domestic league.
Spalletti pointed to a recent match between Udinese and Como, where only two of the 33 players involved were Italian, as evidence of a systemic issue. "This fact is fundamental because we must try to protect our talents," he said in comments reported by Sky Sports. He argued that without a natural affection for developing local players, a formal rule might be necessary. "If we can't manage to have affection for our players on our own... then a rule is needed that imposes it," Spalletti stated.
The former Italy national team coach elaborated on his proposal, acknowledging the potential challenges. "I'll give an example: what if we made it so an Under-19 player had to play in Serie A for every team?" he said. He explained that clubs like Juventus would then be forced to scout and develop more youth players, benefiting the national pool even if the best prospects emerge from smaller clubs. "Maybe no one from Juve becomes good, but one comes out from Cremonese or other teams," Spalletti noted.
Spalletti's comments followed a Juventus performance he described as having "two faces." The Bianconeri secured a crucial 2-0 win at the Allianz Stadium with first-half goals from Bremer and Weston McKennie, moving to within one point of fourth-placed Como. Despite the victory, which lifted Juventus to 57 points, Spalletti was critical of his team's second-half display, where they relied on a penalty save from goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to secure the points.
The manager also provided updates on injured players Mattia Perin and Dusan Vlahovic, confirming both suffered muscle tightness and require further assessment. He praised McKennie's versatility, comparing the American midfielder to former Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi for his ability to perform multiple roles effectively.
Spalletti's broader concern, however, remained the health of Italian football. Reflecting on the World qualifying exit under former manager Gennaro Gattuso, he expressed deep sympathy and suggested the weight of expectation in critical moments can be overwhelming. He insisted the solution lies in creating a stronger pipeline of players accustomed to high-level football from a younger age. While admitting his idea for a youth quota is hypothetical and untested abroad, Spalletti concluded it may be a necessary step for Italy to rebuild. "We need to try to protect our talents," he reiterated. "Otherwise, we will continue to see teams filled with non-Italian players, and our national team will pay the price."
