Politano did not try to soften the disappointment. “Tenho dificuldade para falar sobre isso,” he said. “Foi horrível.” That honesty matters. Italy’s setbacks have kept dragging the same question back into the open: are top clubs creating enough space for young Italian players to grow?
His argument feels broader than one squad or one manager. Politano’s point was simple: if elite academies are not producing and promoting Italian talent, the national team will keep paying the price later.
Politano also painted a bruising picture of Napoli’s campaign. “Foi uma temporada longa, com muitos compromissos e lesões,” he said, describing a year that tested depth and resilience. He added that there were moments when the squad struggled “até para colocar 11 jogadores em campo.”
That is the kind of season that exposes everything - squad planning, fitness, mentality and trust in younger options. Politano’s tone, though, was not defeatist. He insisted the work built over the previous two years was still visible, even through the chaos.
One bright note was Antonio Vergara, whom Politano praised for his hunger and personality. In a difficult season, that kind of endorsement can carry weight.
There was also regret. Politano said Kevin De Bruyne’s long absence hurt badly: “Perdemos ele por quatro meses e foi uma ausência significativa.” Whether that loss changed Napoli’s ceiling or simply deepened an already difficult season, Politano made clear the squad felt it.
Italy’s bigger rebuild will not happen overnight, and Napoli’s next chapter may depend on whether young players are trusted when the pressure rises again. That is the storyline to watch now - at club level and far beyond it.