Zamparini: 'Shut up, Ballardini!'

By Football Italia staff

Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini said his Coach “should shut up” rather than ask for reinforcements and discussed a potential takeover.

The Serie A season kicks off this weekend and there’s already trouble at the Stadio Barbera, with outspoken patron Zamparini hitting out at Coach Davide Ballardini.

“Ballardini wants more players? He says things like that… one day we’ll understand why! He’s got a new first choice goalkeeper,” Zamparini told the Corriere dello Sport.

“We brought in Rajkovic, Gazzi, Aleesami, Nestorovski, Sallai: three youngsters like Embalo, Bentivegna and Lo Faso. I want to see trust and enthusiasm, not requests.

“In attack we’ve got Balogh, Sallah, Nestorovski, Quaison, Bentivegna, Embalo, Trajkovski and Lo Faso. In the golden days only Ilicic, Hernandez, Pastore and Cavani. The average age of these lads is 19 and a half. And they told me we couldn’t stay in Serie A!

“I stole several talents from the opposition, this is why I’d appreciate more confidence and not complaints… I want the Coach to do his work and let the club do the clarification on transfers.

“Ballardini should only be talking about the training methods and tactical systems, all the rest he should say to me and not the Press.

“Ballardini needs to learn to shut up and let the pitch do the talking, seeing as he’s a fine Coach.”

Zamparini has two offers on the table to sell Palermo, from a Chinese group and the Italian-American businessman Frank Cascio. You can read our exclusive interview with Cascio here.

“Cascio made a good impression on me, he is in love with Palermo and must have some capable people behind him. He’s always been a fan of the club, so he’ll meet over the next few days with executive manager Baiguera.

“The rest is all yet to be defined. The economic part is the most important, not just to buy the club, but also to understand what plans Palermo have for the future.

“Aside from my affection for Cascio, the Chinese intermediaries seem to be on another level.”

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