CESENA, ITALY – OCTOBER 10: Italy U-21 head coach Silvio Baldini during the UEFA U21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 vs Sweden U21 at the ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld on October 10, 2025 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini has said there is mutual respect for CT Roberto Mancini, who “left our best players for Armenia and Poland”, and former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli is a “pleasant surprise” in the coaching staff.
In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Azzurrini coach spoke in detail about Italy’s qualification for the U21 European Championship, his relationship with Mancini and Claudio Ranieri, and Pio Esposito’s desire to play with the youth team next summer.
Baldini on Italy U21 success, relationship with Mancini and hopes of winning the Euros and Olympics
Baldini and Italy’s U21s finished their EURO qualifying campaign in impressive fashion, Beat Poland 6-2 in Pescara, they won the first place in their group ahead of their opponent and in the process took a guaranteed place in the final tournament.
The highlight of that game was magnificent, instinctive Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour’s 70-meter shot, has already been nominated for the Puskas Award.
Baldini says that he has never seen such a goal in his career.
“Never,” he said La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I am happy to say that I have seen such a phenomenal goal from a special player like Ndour.”
Baldini was asked about his thought process as a manager.
He explained: “It’s like speaking in front of 10 people who speak 10 different languages. To make yourself understood, you have to speak in a way that they understand. I only speak Italian, but you have to change it depending on the person in front of you. I can give you an example.
“With Favasuli and Fortini injured, we brought in Ahanor from the senior team to protect ourselves against Poland’s counter-attacks. Ahanor played. [at full-back]but sometimes he played as a winger, so I had to raise my voice for him.
“I could tell by his face that I wasn’t helping him. So at the end of the first half, I went over to hug him and calmly explained that he had to cover Pissily and his Liberal. I wanted him to understand that I wasn’t scolding him.
“And the other players need to feel that reprimand to understand where they went wrong.”
What is the main message he wants to convey to his players?
“As I always say, they shouldn’t think about getting rich and famous, but they should always look for the happiness they got in childhood in football, they do it just for fun. And they should behave well on the field. Not like that ball boy in Armenia.”
Baldini went on to discuss his relationship with his son Mattia, who serves as a coach for the Italy U21 team. He insists there is no nepotism involved.
“Professionally, he is not my son. He has no extra privileges or responsibilities. I see that he gets along well with the staff, with the players. He gets a lot of love and affection.
“They think he’s there because he’s my son, but he’s not. When I brought him to Palermo, the sporting director Castagni preferred me not to. I brought him on my own account. That was in January.
“They called him into headquarters in March and said it wasn’t fair that he was working for free. They gave him a bit but it meant recognition for his work. It was very valuable. He 100% deserves to be with the U21s.”
Andrea Barzagli is also part of the coaching set-up of the Italy U21 team.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Baldini said. “I would never have believed that someone with his resume would have that level of humility, as if he played as an amateur and was still trying to learn the job.
“I have all the respect for him and he’s the one who guides and explains in technical discussions, not me. He’s great and if he’s a good sporting director, he’ll have a great career as a head coach.”
But what is his relationship with Mancini, the head coach of the Italian national team?
“There is a lot of cooperation. After all, he left us our best players for the matches against Armenia and Poland. Besides, we agree and there is mutual respect. Three years ago, when he became the head coach, I told him that I wanted to train U-21. He supported me, but in the end the federation decided to go to someone else.
“And between me and him, we have a key figure in Claudio Ranieri. He was with us at Pescara and was able to motivate the whole team with his experience.”
With the European Championships and a potential appearance at the 2028 Olympics on the horizon over the next two summers, it will be an exciting few years for Italy U21s. Baldini has big aspirations for both races.
“I was hoping to qualify for the Euros and here we go. Now I’m hoping to win it and then go to the Olympics and win them,” he said.
“We have technically sound players and if they play like they did against Poland last night and show the desire to work as a team, those two things can definitely be done.”
Finally, Baldini was asked if he would try to take one of the eligible members of the Italy squad with him to the U21 EURO next summer. He hinted that there is a chance to see Pio Esposito feature, but probably not the likes of Marco Palestra, Michael Kayode or Alessandro Romano.
“Guys, I’ll keep what I have. Pio is the only one who gives me his availability if he’s not too busy with the senior national team. When we left in June, he told me he wanted to play in the European Championships because he missed out two years ago. We hope there will be no problem and they leave him with us.”