Pietro Lo Monaco: “Milan will experience another year of suffering”

In an interview given to TuttoMercatoWeb.com, Pietro Lo Monaco, former manager of Catania in particular, gave his critical view on current Italian football, its players and its challenges. Firstly addressing the exceptional longevity of players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both still performing well despite their advanced age, Lo Monaco specifies: “Messi is always at the top because he takes care of himself, he can last up to forty years. He comes into the game sometimes, but remains a pleasure to watch. Cristiano Ronaldo is still a young man. This World Cup is more about veterans than new players. »

Regarding the Italian situation, he denounces “the disease of the system which has led football adrift. Italian football is a pyramid including amateur and women's football, but it is not a problem of men, but of the system. The real decision-maker is the Federal Council. » Lo Monaco calls for unity around the president of CONI, Giovanni Malagò: “The problem is solved if everyone sits around a table to think in the interest of the entire system. » He criticizes in particular the exorbitant sums paid to agents, “250 million”, while the Series B and Series C are devalued: “These are facts that speak volumes. »

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Asked about the recent signing of Palestra by Chelsea, a symbol according to him of a decline in Italian attractiveness, he explains: “Chelsea took a week to recruit a player that Inter had wanted for three months. »

In the transfer window, he expects “creative” movements, especially from clubs like Fiorentina. On the other hand, he is ironic about Milan: “Milan, without a real sporting director, is experiencing difficulties, I think that other interests are at stake. It will be another year of suffering for them. »