Italy coach backs Spalletti for big season after Trigoria visit

Italy coach Giampiero Ventura has spoken of his respect for Luciano Spalletti, wishing the Giallorossi boss a successful season at Roma after he visited Trigoria on Monday.

“I hope this is Spalletti’s biggest season yet at Roma,” Ventura said. “He’s had several great campaigns here, but this one could be huge.

“When he arrived last season he had to turn a difficult situation around, especially on the physical side of things. Everything he’s achieved – and he’s achieved a lot, when you look at all the results – has been down to that more than anything else.

"This year, however, he’s able to start having worked through a training camp with an almost full squad.”

The two managers know each other from their time at Entella in 1982, when Ventura was coach and Spalletti a player. Both men then joined Spezia in 1986.

“My relationship with Spalletti is more than just professional,” acknowledged Ventura. “You could say that I’ve seen him grow up and that means we have a certain type of relationship. It’s been lovely to see him today – he’s always very welcoming and friendly.”

Having made the step from club football to the international game, Ventura was keen not to be drawn into making predictions for the Serie A season ahead.

“I don’t think it’s worth making predictions. Everyone is saying that Juventus are on another planet but I’d be a little more cautious than that," he offered. "It’s true that they’ve signed [Gonzalo] Higuain and other great players, but they’ve lost [Paul] Pogba and that’s no minor issue.

"In Italian football, I’ve never seen a side that’s won before they’ve even started playing. There’ll definitely be some surprises and I think it’ll be a successful season.”