Italiano: ‘Vlahovic incredible, he still has so much to give, Miretti surprised me’

FLORENCE, ITALY - DECEMBER 11: Dusan Vlahovic and Vincenzo Italiano manager of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Salernitana at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 11, 2021 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Vincenzo Italiano has gone on record to express his pride in Dusan Vlahovic, who has come up with five goals from four appearances since leaving Juventus for Besiktas earlier this summer, and says that Fabio Miretti has been a pleasant surprise in the Turkish Super Lig: ‘He was shut out at Juve and we took advantage of it’. 

Italiano, who has won four of his first six league matches in charge of Besiktas, gave an in-depth interview to the Corriere dello Sport, published on Thursday, discussing his career ambitions, his hopes to win the Scudetto and the quality that Vlahovic and Miretti have brought since joining from Juventus. 

Italiano on Scudetto dreams, Besiktas start, Vlahovic and Miretti

It had come as somewhat of a surprise to see Italiano end up at Besiktas after so many managerial changes in Serie A during the summer transfer window. He says that there were approaches from teams in Italy, and that he hadn’t originally wanted to move abroad, but that his mind was opened after a positive round of talks with Portuguese giants Benfica. 

“Let’s say yes, but I won’t say which one,” said Italiano when asked if he had spoken to any Serie A clubs over the summer. 

“I had talks with a few teams in Europe. I had a great conversation with the Benfica management, who opened my mind a bit given that I hadn’t previously been open to working abroad. 

“A few days later, Besiktas called me and presented a big project. I decided to try this adventure and up until a few months ago, I’d have never thought about taking it on. I wanted to stay in Italy and try to achieve big goals, but the story has gone differently.”

Italiano still has dreams of returning to Italy one day and winning the league title: “I don’t know. My dream since I was a child has been to win the Scudetto. I’m still a dreamer, let’s see if I can do it before I retire.”

Discussing his time so far with Besiktas, the former Fiorentina and Bologna boss said: “The atmosphere here is extraordinary. New stadiums, huge, all full and full of passion. It reminds me of Italian football in the 1980s and 90s when we all played at 15.00 and waited the whole week for the game. 

“There’s a crazy intensity, not just from the fans of the biggest teams. It’s like this everywhere. The last game, we went away to Amed, a newly-promoted side. They had 40,000 ‘animals’ there, it was impressive. It’s the same atmosphere as what I remembered as a child in Italy when all the stadiums were full. 

“I’m pleasantly surprised. Maybe this league isn’t up with the top five in Europe, but it’s a good level and it’s growing. Valuable players and top coaches continue to arrive as well.”

Italiano’s marquee signing this summer was the acquisition of former Juventus striker Vlahovic on a free transfer. He has since provided five goals from his first four league appearances in Turkiye. 

“I spoke to him the day I signed to understand where he was given that he was leaving Juve,” said Italiano. 

“He had a lot of talks with a lot of big clubs. The club agreed with me to try and bring him in. In the end, we got a 26-year-old, who still has great value and a great future ahead of him. 

“Back to his best, we could see the Vlahovic from a few years ago. He has five goals in four games so far, and we’re still trying to get him up to full speed. Dusan can still give a lot in European football, he’s still very young.”

So why did things not work out for Vlahovic towards the end of his Juventus career?

“I don’t know. Looking at the numbers, he did score a few goals, it’s not that he didn’t perform. Injuries and certain other situations within the team definitely didn’t help him.”

Italiano agreed when it was put to him that Vlahovic is the best striker he’s ever worked with. 

“He was incredible during those six months in Florence: 20 goals in 20 games. I’m convinced we could have done even more that year had he stayed, even though we did fairly well in the end. 

“I’ve had good strikers since then, but not at that level. I think I’ve done a good jon in the five years between Fiorentina and Bologna, though. I lifted the Coppa Italia with Bologna, a trophy that had been missing for 50 years. We still managed to do something positive, even without a Vlahovic. I’ve had Castro, Jovic, Cabral, Piatek, Dallinga, all great players, but Dusan in Florence had something different.”

Italiano was also full of praise for Miretti, who also joined Besiktas from Juventus this summer. 

“He came on in the second half of our last game and changed it. He was injured for two weeks and hasn’t been available. He’s got back into shape and hasn’t just done well, he’s given even more. 

“I really wanted him, and we need four U23s here and Fabio already has 100 matches at Serie A level. We had to complete that deal and I pushed hard for it. He has a lot of talent. He was shut out a bit at Juve and we took advantage of it. He can play in lots of different roles in the middle of the park. He surprised me the other night, he had a real game.”