Agnelli questions Serie A attraction

Speaking at the Leaders in Football conference, Agnelli explained that the difficulty of the league no longer makes it a place where the world's best players end their careers.  

Instead, he claimed Serie A has become more of a transitional league, highlighting the case of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, who currently plies his trade at the Juventus Stadium. 

"I think we used to be a final destination for international top players, but what I sense now is that we are a transit league," Agnelli said on Thursday. 

"Given that Paul [Pogba] is one of the best talents we have, I was wondering whether the Italian Serie A league in general will be able to retain, keep and further attract talents or will Serie A lose talents, because they'll come and graduate.

"Tactically and from a sports point of view the Italian league is one of the toughest leagues - when you think that the turnover you have with the Italian teams participating in the Champions League is probably higher than any other country, at least with the top two or three teams.

"So, players can graduate in Italy but then find ultimate success elsewhere and be paid more, because the systems in which they operate work better."

Agnelli also offered his opinion on the issue of racism in Italy, with Lazio, Roma and Inter all having been recently punished for abuse from sections of their respective fans. 

Despite this, Agnelli said he did not feel Italy had a major problem with racism and called for authorities to understand the difference between racial abuse and "territorial discrimination".

"I don't think Italian football particularly has a huge problem with racism. We have implemented a set of regulations that have been set out by UEFA and we have harshened those with territorial discrimination," he said. 

"I think the mistake was that when this was passed by the board of the Italian federation at the beginning of August it wasn't given due consideration and now it is bringing us some problems in terms of applying the sanctions that were brought in in August.

"Racism is one thing; territorial discrimination is another, and what that represents in terms of chanting from various football teams. I think everything that can be done against racism should be done but we should be careful about what we define as racism."

Latest in
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi of Spain thanks the fans during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip on March 20, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Arsenal report: Martin Zubimendi 'very close' to shock Real Madrid move
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim reacts at full-time of the Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on 9 March, 2025
Manchester United make exciting teenager 'top priority' this summer: report
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool set for major PSR hit ahead of the summer: report
Latest in News
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi of Spain thanks the fans during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip on March 20, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Arsenal report: Martin Zubimendi 'very close' to shock Real Madrid move
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim reacts at full-time of the Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford on 9 March, 2025
Manchester United make exciting teenager 'top priority' this summer: report
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool set for major PSR hit ahead of the summer: report
The current logo used for the Premier League
Surprise sponsor 'in talks' with the Premier League over multi-million pound deal: report