Donadoni: Romano Won't Save Italy at 20; What Were Expectations?

Alessandro Romano, a Cagliari talent, debuted for the senior Italian national team on Friday against Belgium. One of his two mislaid passes contributed to Belgium's early goal. Despite this criticism, former Italy player and coach Roberto Donadoni supports Romano, stating that expecting a 20-year-old to be the country's savior is a recurring mistake.

Donadoni believes Roberto Mancini should continue to trust the young midfielder. "He's a promising player, someone to invest in," Donadoni told Gazzetta. "He has a good head on his shoulders and undoubted qualities."

Romano, a former Roma academy player, moved to Cagliari permanently this summer and scored on his Serie A debut against Parma, securing a 1-0 win for his team. "In just a few months, he's gone from Serie B to the national team, a difficult reality to process," Donadoni noted. "Young players need time to adjust to a higher level. What did we expect from a 20-year-old?"

The former Italy coach added, "Romano is serious, committed, and eager to train and prove himself. The foundation is excellent, and you must build around a player like him. However, thinking he can be the nation's savior or that young players mature overnight repeats past errors."

Donadoni pointed out that other nations give talented young players opportunities while also being patient. This requires not only the coach but also the clubs, fans, and public opinion to support young players' development. Italy is set to play Turkey in Bursa on Monday, September 28.

Discussing Italian and Turkish coaches, Donadoni commented, "They are both well-prepared coaches, and the fact that they are Italian shows the value of our coaching tradition. Turkey kept Montella because he demonstrated quality and the federation has a long-term program centered around him. That was the correct decision."

In contrast, Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup three times consecutively, with many players from the squad that lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March still part of the current team. Donadoni concluded, "Mistakes and disappointments should make one stronger, not weaker. A professional must handle difficult moments and respond. The players selected for the national team are good enough and deserve to be there. I expect those who were in Zenica that night to forget what happened and use that disappointment as motivation to secure qualification for the next World Cup."