Rafa Benítez has issued a clear warning to those in charge of Italian football: he is available and interested in taking over the Italian national team. The Spanish coach, who has a history marked by significant stints at top clubs in Italy, admits that the possibility of leading the national team is a challenge that attracts him, also expressing strong opinions on recent developments in transalpine football.
Benítez, who managed Inter and Napoli before taking on projects in England, Spain, and Greece, has left open his desire to return to Italy. “I finished my work in Greece and I am waiting for new opportunities,” he confessed to Sky Sport Italia. When asked about the Italian Football Federation’s interest in names like Pep Guardiola, the Spaniard responded with a smile: “I am working to improve my Italian… The idea of being the national coach is intriguing. Would I like it? Yes, of course.”
Regarding Napoli, the club he left in 2015, Benítez was not surprised by Antonio Conte’s departure, confirmed after two seasons, and the likely arrival of Massimiliano Allegri, who was recently dismissed from AC Milan. “I know Aurelio De Laurentiis well. He is a very smart president and knows that Allegri has the right experience. It’s not easy to find someone at Conte’s level, but he has found one,” the coach analyzed, emphasizing the astuteness of the Neapolitan leader in managing the squad and coaching staff.
Still in the Italian landscape, Benítez addressed the surprising achievement of Inter Milan’s “double” this season, under the management of debutant Cristian Chivu, a former defender and teammate of the Spaniard in the historic team that won the treble in 2010. “Chivu was intelligent when he played with me, but at first, I didn’t see him as a coach. However, with intelligence and a strong team, everything is easier,” he explained. “When you try to invent too much, it complicates things. Titles are won with a competitive squad and an intelligent coach.”
With these statements, Benítez positions himself as a credible and ambitious alternative for the future of Italian football, offering solid experience combined with a pragmatic and winning vision. The landscape of Serie A and the national team is changing, and the Spaniard seems ready to take the helm of this new cycle. The coming months promise decisive decisions that could bring Rafa Benítez back into the spotlight of European football.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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