Marco van Basten, the legendary Dutch striker who lit up Serie A during his iconic spell at AC Milan, has delivered a candid verdict on the state of Italian football—and it's not pretty. In a revealing interview with SportMediaset, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner didn't hold back, calling out foreign ownership for eroding the soul of Serie A clubs and lamenting Italy's fall from grace on the global stage.
"Currently, there are many foreign owners in Serie A who have nothing to do with the clubs' history, nor are they interested in it," van Basten said. "It's a shame. It would be important to bring Italian football back into Italian hands so it can return to the top of Europe." He singled out his former club, AC Milan, as a prime example of this disconnect. "Milan are an example. They are no longer what they used to be. I often follow them, and I hope they'll recover soon because Inter are dominating, and I don't like it at all."
The Dutch icon's critique comes at a time when Serie A continues to grapple with an identity crisis, as clubs like Milan, Inter, and Roma now operate under foreign ownership that prioritizes financial returns over tradition. For van Basten, this shift has stripped the league of its historic allure—a sentiment that resonates deeply with fans who remember when Italian clubs ruled European football.
Turning to the international stage, van Basten didn't mince words about Italy's recent struggles. The Azzurri have failed to qualify for the World Cup for three consecutive tournaments, a staggering decline for a nation that once boasted four World Cup titles. "Stars are currently missing. Italy have always had a great goalkeeper, a great defender, a great midfielder, and a great striker," he observed. "Today, it's not the same. It's hard to see them, and it's strange. Italian football used to rule the world, but it doesn't anymore."
As for his own allegiances at the upcoming World Cup, van Basten admitted he'll be cheering for the Netherlands—but with tempered expectations. "I will support the Netherlands at the World Cup, but I don't expect much. Therefore, I'll support Ancelotti's Brazil," he said, referencing his former Milan teammate Carlo Ancelotti, who now manages the Brazilian national team. The two shared the pitch at San Siro from 1987 to 1992, forming part of a golden era that saw Milan dominate both domestically and in Europe.
Van Basten's remarks serve as a poignant reminder of how far Italian football has drifted from its glory days—and a call to action for those who still believe in its potential to rise again.