Gabriele Gravina

Italian federation boss tasked with introducing B teams into Serie C

- Paddy Agnew

New Italian Football Federation boss Gabriele Gravina will have just two years in office to make a difference – a time-frame considered far too short by ex-Milan star Demetrio Albertini, who has been active in football politics for over a decade.

A deputy president of the federation from 2007 to 2014, Albertini argues that much longer is needed for meaningful change, and he is probably right, but at least Gravina will be able to oversee the completion of one reform already started, namely the creation of Serie A “seconde squadre” (reserve or B teams) playing in Serie C this season.

Italian clubs have always used their under-19 Primavera sides as a sort of reserve team, but a problem comes with what to do when a player turns 19 but is judged not yet ready to join the first-team squad. In another culture the player might be thrown into the senior squad on a sink-or-swim basis, but that is not always the Italian way, with coaches much slower to blood young talent.

Until now, such players have either been sold – with a buy-back option – or loaned out. If all goes well, the player gets invaluable, genuinely competitive experience so that if and when he returns to his Serie A club he is a more valuable player, both on the pitch and in the transfer market.