Pescara boss Zdenek Zeman says he wasn’t shocked by the decision to include Marco Verratti in the Italian national set-up.
Pescara boss Zdenek Zeman says he wasn’t shocked by the decision to include Marco Verratti in the Italian national set-up.
The 19-year-old midfielder was one of a number of surprise inclusions in Cesare Prandelli’s preliminary 32-man squad for Euro 2012.
“I’m not surprised by his inclusion because Verratti knows how to play football,” the Czech tactician noted.
“He has great natural talent and he’s a boy who has worked very hard this year given that he hasn’t had injury problems to deal with.
“He still has to watch and learn from the older players, but he is on the right path.
“Marco struggled a bit at the start of the season, but he then really improved and now he is doing really well.
“Will he make the final 23-man squad? Don’t ask me that as I can’t know the answer.”
The Under-21 international is wanted by Juventus, but his future will not be sorted out until the Serie B season has come to an end.
Zeman also said he understood why fellow Pescara star Lorenzo Insigne, on loan from Napoli, wasn’t taken into consideration.
“Italy boss Cesare Prandelli chose Sebastian Giovinco,” Zeman added. “They have the same characteristics and Giovinco did very well at Parma in Serie A this term.”