Altobelli: I hope Italy will participate in the World Cup, Inter Milan and Napoli are the favorites to win Serie A

In an interview, Italian star Altobelli talked about the Italian national team, this season's Serie A championship and other topics.

Italy has missed two consecutive World Cups, and now they will once again participate in the World Cup play-offs to compete for qualifications.

If the last time you participated in the World Cup was in 2014, then there is obviously a problem with the football system. It takes a little courage to trust our talented young players. Italy's national youth teams of all ages have always been at the top level, and this cannot be accidental.

Who do you think are the young players that can be focused on developing? Pio Esposito?

I think yes, he has excellent physique and skills, Inter Milan has decided to focus on cultivating him immediately because he has huge potential. And he himself made the right choice and did not choose to continue renting. To develop into a championship player, playing with other championship players is crucial. Being able to train with teammates like Lautaro and Thuram every day will help him grow rapidly.

Can Italy get a ticket to next year's World Cup?

I really can't imagine Italy missing the World Cup again, hope everything goes well. At the same time, I believe Gattuso has restored the right spirit to the team and conveyed his long-standing sense of belonging to the Italian national team to the whole team.

Who do you think will win the Serie A title this season?

It’s too early to talk about this now, but I still think Inter Milan and Naples are the most promising. Inter Milan is the strongest team, and after years of financial austerity, they are now ready to invest and bring in valuable young players. Chivu is a great coach who makes everyone feel involved. Napoli have a serious plan and winning two Serie A titles in three years is not easy. I thought they were the biggest opponents from the beginning, but Naples still needs to deal with two-front battles. I originally expected Milan and Roma to perform well, with coaches Allegri and Gasperini being the guarantees.

What about Juventus?

I think they will be back in contention soon, and they need some targeted signings and a little experience. Maybe they won't be able to dominate Serie A like they used to, but they can still compete for the title. At the same time, they also have Vlahovich, a center they can rely on, who has entered a mature stage.