# Baldini urges Italy U21 to treat matches as competitive

- Topic: football
- Source: [Football Italia](https://football-italia.net/baldini-chivu-fabregas-good-italian-football/)
- Published: 2026-11-09
- Original: https://football-italia.net/baldini-chivu-fabregas-good-italian-football/
- Language: en
- Image: https://icdn.football-italia.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Silvio-Baldini-side-CU-414x276.jpg

## At a glance

- Baldini insists Italy U21 must treat every match as competitive, not friendly.
- The squad has qualified for the European Under‑21 Championship and will face France and Belgium in November.
- Former Inter defender Cristian Chivu and ex‑Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas praised for coaching youth at Inter and Como.
- Several U21 players, such as Alphadjo Cisse and Mattia Liberali, already promoted to senior squad for Nations League games.

## Sources

- [Football Italia](https://football-italia.net/baldini-chivu-fabregas-good-italian-football/)

## The story

Italy’s under‑21 coach Silvio Baldini told reporters that the squad should never view their games as mere friendlies, insisting each match must be treated as a competitive contest. Baldini, who stepped in after Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation, highlighted the team’s recent qualification for the European Under‑21 Championship and the importance of maintaining high standards. He praised former Inter defender Cristian Chivu and former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, noting that their coaching roles at Inter and Como respectively help instill a culture of learning and youth‑friendly tactics. The Azzurrini will face France on November 13 and Belgium on November 16 in what Baldini described as “prestigious friendly tests” that will further assess the squad’s readiness. Several U21 players, including Milan forward Alphadjo Cisse and Como’s Mattia Liberali, have already been called up to the senior side for the Nations League fixtures against the same opponents. Baldini stressed that youth development is vital for Italian football’s future, urging clubs to follow the example set by coaches who embrace young talent. With the qualification secured, the focus now shifts to fine‑tuning the squad ahead of the upcoming friendlies and the final stages of the European Championship.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://football-italia.net/baldini-chivu-fabregas-good-italian-football/)