It’s time to apologise to Di Lorenzo | OneFootball

Giovanni Di Lorenzo faced harsh criticism after the Euros, but convincing performances from club and country this season should prompt fans to apologise to the experienced defender.

The 2023-24 campaign was probably the toughest in recent years for Di Lorenzo. Surely, it was a huge step back after becoming the first – and only – captain following Diego Maradona to lift the Scudetto trophy in Naples.

Not only did he endure a terrible title defence under three different coaches last term, but he was also booed by fans in the final games of the season, and his departure from Naples seemed inevitable until Antonio Conte was appointed.

The Italian tactician had clear plans for the 31-year-old from Castelnuovo Garfagnana. Off the pitch, the Italian pushed for Di Lorenzo’s stay at the Maradona, just like he did with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Stanislav Lobotka. On the pitch, Conte first played DiLo in a three-man defence and then moved him back to the right-back position, switching to a 4-2-3-1 system.

The Italian defender has already scored three times in 12 Serie A appearances, including a decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Lecce at the end of October.

Things look bright on the national team front as well, even if his Nations League campaign had started with a blunt error that allowed France to take an early lead in the first post-EURO 2024 match, eventually won 3-1 in Paris by Spalletti’s men.

It’s time to apologise to Di Lorenzo

epa11721640 Wout Faes (L) and Zeno Debast (C) of Belgium in action against Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Italy (R) during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Italy in Brussels, Belgium, 14 November 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

National team fans had been highly critical of Di Lorenzo, not only on social media but also in Football Italia’s comments section. I remember many, many comments asking Spalletti to drop him from the starting XI or even not call him again.

Di Lorenzo had been one of the most disappointing players at the Euros, and the first September display against France indeed was not magnificent.

However, with the same determination and quality that helped him bounce back at Napoli, and perhaps thanks to the considerable boost from performances with his club, Di Lorenzo reacted on international soil, playing four Italy games from five and adding two goals and one assist.

Last night against Belgium, he provided the final pass for Sandro Tonali, inspiring Italy’s 1-0 win over Belgium and confirming that he still belongs to the national team and the highest spheres of Italian football.

One bad season does not mean the end of a player’s career, so those who questioned his ability to help the Azzurri should now apologise.