Italian football chief Maurizio Viscidi has revealed that he was once offered the opportunity to become the head of Arsenal’s academy.
Viscidi is one of the most influential men in Italian football, although his name is one that few are likely to be aware of.
The 57-year-old is the coordinator of the FIGC youth sector, in which he supervises all seven of the Italian national teams, from the Under 15s to the Under 21’s, with the aim of developing the next generation of Italian stars.
It’s a role he’s had since 2010 and is now seeing his plans come to fruition, with Italy enjoying an emergence of young talent in recent years.
It seems things could have been very different for him, though, as he recently revealed Arsenal offered him the chance to lead their youth production at one point.
“A few years ago, Arsenal suggested that I become the head of their Academy,” he told Ultimo Uomo.
“My difficulties with English made any talks run aground. It is a pleasure to see that abroad, they are studying the model we are carrying out at Club Italia.
“Other federations have also offered me an assignment, all thanks to the continuity of results we are having with all our teams.”
