Spalletti: ‘Gattuso will make it’ with Italy, ‘Esposito gives me hope for the future’ | OneFootball

Former Italy national team head coach believes that his replacement Gennaro Gattuso will have no issues qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, admits that he would still call up Mateo Retegui after his move to the Saudi Pro League and has revealed which young Italy talent he would have liked to have at his disposal during his tenure.

The former CT talked all things Italy during an interview on Nonsolomercato on Rai “ on Tuesday.

Spalletti, who was replaced by Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team earlier this summer, insists that he has no regrets over his own tenure, and that he wishes his successor nothing but the best as he leads the team into the 2026 World Cup.

Spalletti on Gattuso, Esposito, Retegui and Italy’s World Cup qualification

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy gestures during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“The national team felt like I was in heaven,” Spalletti told Rai (via TMW). “I gave it my all, but I was unable to give everything. I’m especially sorry to those who expected big results and development. I take responsibility having failed to do so.

“The federation was always close by me and gave me the opportunity to work in the best possible way, but unfortunately that’s not how it went.”

Spalletti was asked if he feels that the standard or quality of player available to the Italy national team is at an all-time low.

He replied: “In my opinion, absolutely not. Look at what we showed in Europe for comparison. The players I chose, I would choose again. What they must know is that they’re great players. I watched them with all their qualities and I can say that I had a strong national team. Now I will watch Rino Gattuso’s selections with curiosity. I wish him the best of luck.”

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League match between Brighton & Hove Albion v Olympique de Marseille at American Express Community Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

And does Spalletti feel that Gattuso is the right man to lead Italy into the 2026 World Cup in North America?

“Absolutely, he will make it. I’ve listened to him because he called me, and we exchanged a couple of jokes. We respect each other a lot, because he’s passionate and is someone who dedicates a lot of time to the work he does. I wish him luck.”

Spalletti also admitted that he would have liked to have had Inter talent Francesco Pio Esposito at his disposal when he was still in charge.

FERRARA, ITALY – MARCH 26: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and Turkey U21 at Stadio Paolo Mazza on March 26, 2024 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Asked if there are any young players he would have liked to have selected, Spalletti replied: “I did call some of them, like Leoni. I watched Pio Esposito play and he gave me hope for the future. My worry is that I didn’t bring anyone in from Serie B. Going back, I would have called someone from the Cadetteria.”

And on Retegui, who has left Atalanta after one year in order to join Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, Spalletti said: “We have to be open to everything now, we can’t just throw people away, because there are not so many players who are able to be called up.

“Before, you could choose from 500 players, now, you choose from 50. Giving yourself the luxury of leaving out players who have made an individual choice is inconceivable.”