Ballardini won’t coach Italy’s youngsters

(GSM) – Former Lazio manager Davide Ballardini has dismissed speculation that he will succeed current Italy Under-21 boss Perluigi Casiraghi.

The tactician has been tipped to become the new Azzurrini boss following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2011 European Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

“It is not true that I will coach the Under-21 side,” Ballardini told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli this afternoon.

“There has been no contact with the Federation. Therefore if something does not happen it isn’t because I refused an offer, but because there simply was no approach in the first place.”

Some potential candidates are Claudio Gentile, Antonio Cabrini and current Under-19 Coach Daniele Zoratto.