Edy Reja attacks Ranieri: “You don’t say no to the Azzurri.” | OneFootball

Edoardo Reja, a former coach with many years of experience, including Lazio, Atalanta and Albania, did not appreciate Claudio Ranieri’s refusal to the FIGC’s proposal for the Azzurri bench.

Interviewed by Messaggero Veneto, Reja harshly criticized the former Roma coach for having declined the assignment.

“There is no such thing as refusing the Azzurri shirt, you cannot say no to the national team. It is something out of this world. I still remember the day I received the telegram from the FIGC to show up at the Under 23 meeting.”

On Ranieri’s refusal: “He had said that the only thing missing was the national team. At 75 years old, he probably did not want to take on this burden. But the double assignment is impossible: coaching Italy means going around, talking to the players, observing them.”

Reja also denounces a widespread lack of interest: “It seems that no one wants the national team: it’s scandalous. There are too many foreigners, so it’s difficult to develop our young players. We should force clubs to field 4-5 Under 23s”.