Spalletti says Italy lost momentum by turning away from Maldini’s bold rebuild

Luciano Spalletti has likened Italy’s situation after Paolo Maldini’s departure to trying to update an old, worn-out mobile phone, while outlining how he could use Kerim Alajbegovic in the Juventus team.

Spalletti was speaking after Juventus beat Nice 2-0 in a friendly, with Douglas Luiz and Justin Obuofuwado scoring the goals.

Juventus’ squad is still taking shape, with negotiations at an advanced stage for the arrivals of Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain and Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen.

The possible signing of Bosnia and Herzegovina international Alajbegovic has raised questions about how he could fit into the starting XI alongside Kenan Yildiz, Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Spalletti said Juventus currently lacked both a focal point in attack and a player capable of creating opportunities for him.

“At the moment, we lack a centre-forward who can hold the ball up, and a playmaker who can provide it to him,” said Spalletti.

He described Kolo Muani as a versatile forward who could operate in several areas of the pitch, while suggesting Alajbegovic would be more naturally suited to a role behind the striker.

“Kolo Muani is a completely complete striker, because he can drop deeper and link up with the midfielders, attack spaces and play out wide as well. I see Alajbegovic closer to the position of a playmaker behind the striker,” he added.

That assessment could point towards Yildiz retaining his place on the left wing, with Juventus potentially using a 4-2-3-1 formation. Alajbegovic is also capable of playing in wide positions, however, giving Spalletti further attacking options once the squad is finalised.

Spalletti became Juventus manager in October 2025, less than four months after being dismissed as Italy head coach.

Italy’s results declined after his departure. Gennaro Gattuso and interim manager Silvio Baldini subsequently took charge before Roberto Mancini returned to the position this week.

Maldini had originally been expected to take the Italy job, but resigned after three weeks, clearing the way for Claudio Ranieri.

Spalletti said Maldini’s appointment would have represented a major change for the national side at a time when one was needed.

“Maldini certainly represented something new, which was what we urgently needed,” he said.

He compared the decision to retain the existing approach rather than commit to a more radical overhaul with attempting to improve an outdated device.

“It was like trying to update the firmware of an old, worn-out phone, but it did not work at all. Instead of buying a new phone, we held on to the old one and did not update it,” added Spalletti.

Asked whether Ranieri and Mancini were the right men to guide Italy back towards better results, Spalletti said he could not judge the outcome in advance. He maintained that Maldini’s brief involvement had represented a chance to move the project forward more decisively.

“I cannot know that. Maldini represented moving into fourth gear and flying along the road, but instead we have gone back to second gear,” he said.