Montolivo on new Italy coach: ‘Gattuso is not someone who I respect’ | OneFootball

Former Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is no fan of likely new Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso. ‘He is not someone who I respect.’

Multiple sources are confident that the decision has been made and Gattuso will be appointed to the Nazionale bench following the dismissal of CT Luciano Spalletti.

There hasn’t been universal acclaim to this choice, even though the options were somewhat limited after Claudio Ranieri declined to come out of retirement or leave his role as special advisor to Roma.

Montolivo blasts Gattuso choice for Azzurri

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Riccardo Montolivo of AC Milan gestures during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between AC Milan and Ludogorets Razgrad at the San Siro on February 22, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Among those most against the plan is Montolivo, who spoke out as a pundit on Sky Sport Italia.

“Let’s just say that he is not someone who I respect. Obviously, I hope that he can do as well as possible with Italy.”

The feud goes back to their time together at Milan, when Gattuso was the coach from 2017 to 2019, even though they had been teammates together for Italy.

HAMBURG, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 15: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Knockout Round Play-offs First Leg match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympique de Marseille at Volksparkstadion on February 15, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Montolivo had been the captain of that Rossoneri squad until it was taken from him, then he was largely excluded altogether during the final campaign.

It contributed to his decision to hang up his boots at the end of that season.

Montolivo made just 17 appearances over two years under Gattuso at San Siro.