Exclusive: Spalletti rejected Italy job

08 ott 2017

Italy boss Giampiero Ventura is under fire due to the azzurri disappointing performances and results. Italy have managed to qualify for the World Cup play-offs but it is still unsure whether they will manage to secure a place in Russia for the summer.

The playoffs games that will be played in November will be vital to know whether Italy will take part to next year’s World Cup and the future of Ventura is up in the air despite his contract expiring in 2020.

According to our reporter Pasquale Guarro, Ventura was not the first choice manager of the Italian football federation.

Italy FA president Carlo Tavecchio, in fact, had offered the job to Luciano Spalletti but the a-the-time Roma boss rejected a chance to train the azzurri after the 2016 European Championship.

Spalletti wanted (and still wants) to coach a club team and not a national team. Just like the majority of managers out there, Spalletti enjoys the daily work with the team and still doesn’t want to coach a national team.

He was the first option to replace Conte but he rejected the Italy job, opening the Ventura era.