CESENA, Italy – Oct 10, 2025: Italy U21 coach Silvio Baldini on the sidelines of the UEFA Under‑21 Euro qualifier versus Sweden at the temporary Ernst‑Abbe‑Sportfeld arena. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Baldini stresses that Italian football isn’t starved of talent; the real issue lies with officials, while he lauds Mancini and Ranieri for building a solid development pipeline.
A 6‑2 thrashing of group‑leading Poland – a team that had let in only two goals in nine games – propelled the Azzurrini into next summer’s European Under‑21 Championship.
Senior boss Mancini also helped by freeing up players for the U21s, notably Crystal Palace’s full‑back Honest Ahanor.
For my money, Italy’s youth system is the envy of Europe.
“The talent exists; scarcity isn’t the issue,” Baldini told Sky Sport Italia.
“Our hurdle is uninspired leadership. Look at the squad’s expression – injecting youth into the senior side instantly shifted the vibe,” he said.
“Without game time these youngsters stagnate. Clubs must invest more, field them regularly instead of endlessly loaning them out,” he added.
The U21s surged to the sideline, hugging Baldini in celebration, a clear sign of their close bond.
“Football is pure feeling,” he said. “I tell my lads they’re artists, like painters or poets, moving millions with their craft.”
“Don’t chase cash or fame; you’re here to spread joy,” he warned.
One reform by FIGC’s special commissioner Giovanni Malagò introduced a technical director post for the national teams.
Ranieri’s mandate is to stitch together the youth tiers with the senior side, forging a pipeline that feeds Mancini’s plans.
“They let me retain the key youngsters for our crucial fixtures,” Baldini admitted.
“It’s true teamwork, especially with a figure like Ranieri, who’s coached in France, England and Spain and lifted the Premier League with Leicester – a unique résumé,” he noted.
“Ranieri coordinates the senior and U21 squads; he joined us in Pescara and led the pre‑match camp before Poland,” Baldini said.
“His inspiring words fired us up while keeping us calm for the big game. Ranieri acts as the bridge moving players between squads, always aligned with Mancini,” Baldini explained.
“A dozen or so youngsters are primed for the senior team, and I trust Mancini will hand them chances; he’s proven his belief in youth,” he asserted.
Some propose forcing the U21s into the senior side’s system, but Baldini rejects that notion.
“Copying tactics won’t work; you must tailor setups to player strengths. Talent, not schemes, decides outcomes, so give them freedom to enjoy the game,” he argued.
Baldini slammed clubs that discard youngsters simply because they lack a specific physique.
“Otherwise legends like Messi, Maradona or Pelé might never have played. Physicality matters only so far; technique within a team is what truly counts,” he said.
The past months have been tough for Baldini, who temporarily led the senior side in two summer fixtures.
In July, his 38‑year‑old daughter Valentina passed away after lifelong health battles.
That tragedy explains his unrestrained tears as the team rushed to embrace him on the sideline.
“I arrived at camp feeling eighty, yet within days the weight lifted by forty years,” he reflected, adding the players’ kind words lifted his spirits.
“The youngsters were my cure. I constantly pray for them, and they sensed it. Whether senior or U21, the pride is the same – it’s all the Nazionale,” he said.