Fabio Cannavaro, the legendary 2006 World Cup-winning captain of Italy, shared his thoughts on Napoli, Juventus, and the current state of Italian defenders during an appearance on Betsson Sport Talk, hosted by Pierluigi Pardo.
Speaking about Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, and Antonio Conte, Cannavaro was full of admiration for the club’s leadership and recent progress. “De Laurentiis will go down in history as a winner,” he said, stressing that regardless of personal opinion, the Napoli president ensures financial stability and continues to invest heavily in the team. “He has never been afraid to deal with demanding managers like Benítez or Ancelotti. Conte’s management last season was phenomenal — not just of the players but of the entire environment around the club. He brought everyone back together. People criticise Antonio for lacking style of play, but tactically he’s second to none. In the end, what matters is the result.”
Turning his attention to Juventus, Cannavaro did not mince his words. “From the outside, it looks like they’re going through a moment of confusion because it’s hard to follow a clear direction or establish a defined project. A club like Juventus cannot afford to go this long without winning. Something is being done wrong, and it needs to be corrected quickly.”
When asked about the decline in Italian defenders, Cannavaro reflected on how much the game has changed. “My generation grew up with the culture of marking and physical duels. Today, if a defender isn’t able to start play from the back, it feels like he can’t play at all. That’s caused us enormous damage — we no longer produce world-class defenders or goalkeepers.”
He also lamented how traditional defending has been devalued. “Sliding tackles are now demonised. At Coverciano they’re seen as a mistake because it means you’ve gone ‘on your backside’. For me, though, a perfectly timed slide tackle brings the same joy as a volleyed goal does for a striker.”
