Former Italy international Paolo Di Canio has issued a scathing critique of Serie A, describing the league as an “elephant cemetery” due to its growing trend of attracting elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Kevin De Bruyne near the twilight of their careers.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Di Canio acknowledged the undeniable talent and pedigree of such players but questioned the long-term value they bring to Italian clubs. While he admitted that Modric and De Bruyne are world-class additions, he raised doubts about whether they can consistently perform at the highest level given their advancing age.
“The picture is mixed,” he said. “Italy remains an ‘elephant cemetery’ – it used to be Ronaldo and Ribéry, now it’s De Bruyne and Modric. There’s considerable buzz around the coaches too – Allegri, Kiwu, and Gasperini in Rome, in particular.”
Di Canio continued, “Modric and De Bruyne, at 39 and 34 respectively, are undeniably top-tier players. But the question is: how many games can they sustain peak performance? And how much of their technique and footballing intelligence can their teammates actually benefit from? They can’t do it alone – the whole team must adapt and move with them.”
He emphasized that while fans will appreciate the brilliance of players like Modric, the broader squad must rise to their level to fully capitalize on their presence. “Modric is a leader who connects with the squad – Milan, in particular, should benefit this season, especially with just the league to concentrate on,” he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most high-profile examples Di Canio referenced, joined Juventus in 2018 following a decorated nine-year spell at Real Madrid.
