Spalletti: Italy tried updating with Maldini but stuck with old phone

Luciano Spalletti explains how he sees Kerim Alajbegovic playing in his Juventus and takes a sideswipe at Italy after Roberto Mancini’s return. ‘It’s like trying to update a phone that is outdated.’

The coach spoke to reporters following this evening’s 2-0 friendly victory over OGC Nice , with goals from Douglas Luiz and Justin Oboavwoduo.

LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) This squad is far from complete, as negotiations are at an advanced stage to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain and Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina talent’s arrival raised some questions as to how he could play with Kenan Yildiz, Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao in the side.

“We are right now lacking a centre-forward who holds up the ball and a trequartista who can feed it to him,” Spalletti told reporters in the mixed zone.

“Kolo Muani is quite a complete striker, as he can drop deep and combine with the midfielders, he can attack the space, has played wide too. I see Alajbegovic as more of a trequartista behind the striker.”

That would suggest Kenan Yildiz remaining wide left and a potential 4-2-3-1 formation, although Alajbegovic can play in those winger roles too.

Spalletti unimpressed with Italy changes SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Juventus and Giovanni Carnevali Ceo of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Spalletti took the Juventus job in October 2025, just under four months after he was sacked from the Italy bench.

The Azzurri struggled since his departure, going through Gennaro Gattuso and caretaker manager Silvio Baldini, then finally having Mancini return this week.

The position of technical director was meant to be for Paolo Maldini, who resigned within three weeks to make way for Claudio Ranieri.

“Maldini certainly represented something new, which was absolutely needed,” noted Spalletti.

“It was like trying to update the firmware on a phone that is outdated, it just didn’t work. Instead of buying a new phone, we just stuck with the old one and didn’t update it.”

Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it) So are Ranieri and Mancini the right men to get Italy back on track?

“I can’t know that. Maldini represented going into fourth gear and flying up the road, but instead we’ve gone back into second gear.”