Frattesi explains ‘love-hate’ relationship with Italy CT Spalletti | OneFootball

Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi has joked that he has a ‘love-hate’ relationship with Italy national team head coach Luciano Spalletti due to the boss’s constant instructions in training.

Frattesi recently gave an interview to Vivo Azzurro TV, published on Wednesday morning.

Frattesi is currently the leading goalscorer and leading appearance-maker for Italy since Spalletti took over from Roberto Mancini last summer. He has picked up 17 caps in just over a year, including all of the last four as a starter following the end of EURO 2024.

PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 06: Davide Frattesi of Inter and Italy celebrates after scoring the goal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between France and Italy at Parc des Princes stadium on September 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Frattsi: ‘Love-hate relationship’ with Italy CT Spalletti

Spalletti felt that the Nerazzurri midfielder could play a key role for Italy from the moment he took over, but told Frattessi that that meant he would be ‘bothering’ him non-stop in training.

“I jokingly say that I have a love-hate relationship with the coach,” Frattesi told Vivo Azzurro TV.

“The first time in retreat he told me ‘I have a lot of respect for you, but you will be the player I will bother the most’. If a coach is on your back, it means he wants to make you improve and I have improved with him”.

Frattesi has now scored in three of his last four caps, against France and Israel on two separate occasions, to bring his international tally up to eight goals from 23 outings.