“Despite Italy’s Win, Fans Have Seen Enough: he’s Branded Worst Player in the Squad After Dismal Moldova Display”
It should have been a celebration. Italy walked away with a routine win against Moldova in their final warm-up match before the European Championship. But as the full-time whistle echoed across the stadium, the jubilation was muted by a singular, loud, and damning verdict from the fans: Samuele Ricci should never play for the national team again.
While the scoreboard may have suggested a calm and professional win for the Azzurri, fans on social media, in the stadium, and even some pundits in the press box had their eyes firmly fixed on one man — and not for the right reasons. Samuele Ricci’s performance was widely condemned as a disaster. Sloppy in possession, ineffective off the ball, and visibly lacking confidence, Ricci’s showing was viewed as a step too far for a fanbase already skeptical of his inclusion in the national setup.
🚨 “The Worst Player in the Team”: Fan Reactions Tell the Story
Even before kickoff, there were murmurs of confusion about Ricci’s presence in the starting XI. With Italy boasting a midfield roster that includes the likes of Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Bryan Cristante, and Davide Frattesi, many questioned whether Ricci, who had a decent but far from extraordinary season at Torino, had done enough to earn the Azzurri shirt.
After 90 minutes against a modest Moldova side, those murmurs exploded into full-blown outrage.
“I’d rather play with 10 men than watch Ricci lose the ball again,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“We’re playing Moldova, and Samuele Ricci still looks out of his depth. What happens when we face Germany or France?” asked another.
Others were more direct:
“He is the worst player in the whole national team. Mancini or Spalletti, whoever picked him — explain yourselves.”
The trend was unmistakable. Ricci’s name was trending on social media within minutes of the final whistle — and not in a good way. Videos of his misplaced passes and weak tackles were circulating faster than Italy’s actual goals. Fans were fuming, and the message was loud and clear: they want him dropped from the squad and out of the club he represents.
💥 Where It Went Wrong: A Breakdown of Ricci’s Performance
While the statistics may only hint at the problem, the eye test revealed a more painful truth. Samuele Ricci looked completely out of place.
- Passing accuracy was below 80%, a shocking figure considering the opponent.
- Lost possession 13 times, more than any other midfielder on the pitch.
- Failed to complete a single progressive carry.
- Completed 0 tackles, and was dribbled past 3 times.
- His body language appeared nervous and withdrawn from early in the match.
Every time he received the ball, there was hesitation. Every time he tried to track back, he seemed a second late. In a midfield known for its tactical intelligence and composure under pressure, Ricci looked like an amateur among professionals.
⚽ From Promising Talent to National Liability?
Ricci was once viewed as a rising star in Italian football. Coming through the ranks at Empoli before moving to Torino, his intelligent passing and positional awareness earned him comparisons to deep-lying midfield maestros of the past. But that promise has stagnated — or worse, regressed.
At Torino, Ricci has struggled to control games. His performances in big matches often go unnoticed — not because he’s doing the dirty work in silence, but because he fails to leave a mark. Many Torino fans have expressed concern over his lack of impact, with some even calling for the club to sell him this summer.
After the Moldova game, those club-level frustrations have spilled onto the international stage.
“He’s had one good season in his career and people called him the next Verratti. Now look,” read one viral tweet.
🧠 Spalletti’s Gamble — And Backlash
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti now finds himself under pressure for the first time since taking the job. While Italy’s win keeps morale relatively high, the decision to start Ricci — and more importantly, keep him on the pitch for most of the game — has baffled fans and pundits alike.
Some believe Ricci was given a chance to prove his value as a rotational option ahead of Euro 2024. Instead, he may have proven he doesn’t belong anywhere near the squad.
“It’s not just about one game. It’s about the level. Ricci looks like he’s barely above Serie B level,” said a former Italian international working as a pundit.
Spalletti, known for his tactical brilliance, will have to answer uncomfortable questions. In a squad filled with capable midfielders, giving a start to Ricci now looks like a massive miscalculation. Should Italy face adversity during the tournament, fans will point back to this decision as a sign of flawed judgment.
🔄 Calls for Immediate Action: Drop Him Now?
While Italy’s final squad is now locked in, fans are calling for Spalletti to bench Ricci for the entire tournament, if not cut him altogether should an injury replacement be needed. The hashtag #RicciOut trended in Italy after the game.
At Torino, the backlash has seeped into the club’s online forums. Fans are urging management to sell Ricci before the new season starts, with many pointing to a handful of midfield targets they’d prefer to see replace him.
“Sell Ricci to anyone who’ll take him. Even for free,” one angry Torino fan wrote.
The player himself hasn’t commented on the backlash, but it’s hard to imagine he hasn’t seen it. His confidence looked shattered by the final whistle, and if social media is any indication, his future at both club and country level now hangs in the balance.
📉 What’s Next for Ricci?
The storm around Ricci shows no signs of easing. With Euro 2024 looming, all eyes will be on Spalletti’s squad selections. If Ricci is involved in any more minutes, the pressure will be immense. Any mistake could trigger another wave of public outcry.
There are three possible outcomes:
- He never plays a minute in the tournament again.
- He’s used sparingly but under immense pressure.
- He gets one more chance and redeems himself — but the odds feel slim.
As for his club future, Torino may try to shop him around in the summer transfer window. But with his stock at an all-time low, few top clubs are likely to come calling.
🧨 Final Word: A Warning Tale of Hype and Reality
Samuele Ricci’s fall from grace is a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in modern football. From promising prospect to national pariah, his trajectory has taken a nosedive. And while Italy’s win over Moldova gave the team momentum, Ricci’s personal performance overshadowed everything.
The message from fans is brutal but crystal clear:
They’ve seen enough. They want him out — of the team, and of the club.
In football, perception is everything. And right now, Samuele Ricci is perceived as the weakest link in the Italian national team.
Unless he stages a miracle turnaround, this may go down as the performance that defined — and possibly destroyed — his international career.
