Capello: ‘Zaniolo similar to Savicevic, Donnarumma ungrateful to Milan’

Former coach Fabio Capello hopes the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza crowd won’t boo Gigio Donnarumma but insists the goalkeeper was ungrateful to Milan.

Capello previewed tonight’s Nations League semifinal between Italy and Spain in an interview with Il Corriere dello Sport.

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“Spain will keep the ball possession, but if we defend well, we have good chances because Spain are missing many crucial players,” Capello said.

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When asked whether Insigne could play as a false 9, Capello replied: “I prefer him on the left, I think players must be deployed in their natural positions. However, if Mancini believes this is a suitable option, it can be done.”

Zaniolo played in the same position against Switzerland last month but failed to impress. This time, Mancini has not included the Roma starlet in the squad.

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“Zaniolo can’t play as a false 9, he must stay wide and unleash his physical strength, just like Dejan Savicevic used to do,” said Capello.

“The comparison is not far-fetched, provided that Zaniolo is the same player he was before the injury. He has some glimpses of class similar to those of Dejan.”

Capello believes Sandro Tonali will soon be promoted to the Azzurri squad and that his former teammate Gigio Donnarumma should not be booed by the Giuseppe Meazza crowd.

Nations League | Italy vs. Spain: Will Donnarumma be booed at San Siro?

Donnarumma returns to San Siro for the first time since he left Milan and hopes Milan fans won’t boo him.

“I hope they will fulfil his desire because he is a national team player who has given an enormous contribution.

“However, let me say that he was ungrateful to Milan. After all the club did for him and his family when he was a kid, he should have behaved differently.”

The 22-year-old joined PSG as a free agent after the end of his contract with Milan.

Teorema #Capello: "#Italia, a loro la palla e a noi le chance. Divertiamoci"
https://t.co/Esm9OyFRSK

— Corriere dello Sport (@CorSport) October 6, 2021