Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has criticised Italian football, claiming it is ’10-20 years’ behind the likes of Spain.
Serie A lost its fourth Champions League place at the start of last season due to falling UEFA co-efficient points.
And the Azzurri international has warned that the game on the peninsula is far behind La Liga and the English Premier League.
“The culture of Italian football is about 10-20 years behind the times,” he warned. “The way we think and live it is all wrong.
“We are behind English football, Spanish and German. We’ll soon be behind the French championship too.
“I’m not saying this with venom or anger because if our football is behind then it is also because of me seeing as I am a part of it.
“However, had I left Roma in the past or if I leave in the future then I would run for an experience abroad.”