New Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni isn't worried that many stars of Italy's World Cup- winning side are poised to leave their clubs.
Batting aside suggestions that the scandal-linked 'exodus' may make his job harder, Donadoni said, "They'll still be playing for major clubs".
"I plan to stay in close touch with the clubs and work things out with them," the former AC Milan and Italy winger said at his official presentation Tuesday. World Cup stand-outs like Juventus goalie Gianluigi Buffon, Juve defenders Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta and AC Milan midfield duo Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso have been linked to top clubs in Spain and England.
Juve winger Mauro Camoranesi could be heading to Spain or Germany, the Italian press says.
All these, and the other players who beat favourites France in the July 9 World Cup Final, are sure to figure highly in Donadoni's plans.
Another fixture, Donadoni said, will be playmaker-striker Francesco Totti - despite the Roma star's hints that he is quitting the international scene.
"I doubt he'll stick to that," Donadoni said, adding that Totti was "indispensable". The young coach said he would naturally follow in the World Cup-winning steps of Marcello Lippi, but stressed that he was his own man and had his own plans too.
"I have an idea of how I'd like Italy to play. Of course I'm going to carry on where Lippi left off, but I'll put my own ideas to work too". Asked whether he felt under pressure in following a World Cup winner, Donadoni belied his taciturn image by quipping: "Well, it's better to kick off with Germany 2006 in the bag rather than starting from scratch".
FIGC emergency supremo Guido Rossi appointed Donadoni last week after Lippi, 58, turned down widespread calls to extend his contract, saying his "role was completed". Rossi said, "I chose him because he's young and won't be crushed by Lippi's shadow". He said Donadoni, 43, was the players' choice too.
The new coach has had a mixed reception.
He got the thumbs-up from recent Italy managers who said he was the right kind of man to lead Italy, especially when the club game must recover from its worst-ever scandal. Azeglio Vicini said: "He's the kind of guy who doesn't talk a lot but has an outstanding work ethic." Cesare Maldini noted that "He comes from the Milan school, which imparts values".
But top sports daily Corriere dello Sport said "it's a very risky choice because he's only coached Lecco, Genoa and Livorno so far".
Giancarlo Antognoni, the ex-Fiorentina ace who won the World Cup in '82, said "he hasn't the experience you need". The sports press says the new boss might soon bring into Lippi's ensemble some promising youngsters like Juve's new attacking midfield signing Marco Marchionni, Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pezzini and Chievo Verona flanking midfielder Franco Semioli.
He is also expected to use his standing as an all-time great, as well as a down-to-earth managing approach, to try to recover Italy's great 'lost' talent, former Roma striker Antonio Cassano of Real Madrid.
Donadoni, whose first job is to get Italy through a tough Euro 2008 group including Scotland, Georgia, Lithuania and Italy's defeated Germany 2006 opponents Ukraine and France - still smarting at their final loss - said: "Marcello was extraordinary. I can't think about the difficulties ahead."
Lippi quit the Italy job on Wednesday after leading an unfancied team to World Cup glory and becoming arguably the most successful coach in Italian soccer history. Donadoni was a famously gifted winger for the great AC Milan side of 1986-1996 which picked up five scudetti and three Champions League titles.
He won 63 Italy caps, scoring five times.
Donadoni was a star at two World Cups where Italy narrowly failed to win: Italia '90 when it lost a semi-final to Argentina on penalties, and 1994 when final penalties against Brazil left Roberto Baggio and Co one step short. Donadoni began his coaching career at third division Lecco in 2001. He later graduated to Livorno, steering it out of Serie B.
Under his guidance, Livorno finished ninth in Serie A in 2004-2005.
Donadoni will take to the manager's bench for the first time in a friendly against Croatia on August 16. Like all teams, the Croatians will be eager to show they can compete against the current world champs - especially after their own disappointing World Cup.
Italy's first qualifier for Euro 2008 - which will be co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland - is against Lithuania on September 2. On September 6 there will be the highly charged 'revenge' match against France.
An extra edge will be supplied by the notorious Zidane-Materazzi headbutt case - which is set for a FIFA ruling on Wednesday.
