Kenny: West Ham not ‘glamorous’ enough amid ‘bitter’ Ogbonna comments
Angelo Ogbonna would have made Italy’s squad for the Euros if he played for a more “glamorous” club than West Ham.
That is according to ex-Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after the centre-back was snubbed by the national team.
Reacting to his omission, the 33-year-old told Italian outlet Corriere della Sera that “meritocracy has not prevailed” and that he was “amazed and bitter.”
Roberto Mancini instead picked Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Rafael Toloi as his centre-back options.
Ogbonna, who has 13 Italy caps, helped the Hammers to a 6th-place finish in the Premier League, the club’s best since 1986.
Kenny admitted he was surprised Ogbonna had not made the cut but hypothesised that things may have been different had he played for a more high-profile club.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “Italy have some amazing players. But I find it pretty strange he’s not been called up after such a good season.
“But sometimes you find that with the less glamorous clubs. They’ll think just because he plays for West Ham that he’s not a big enough name.
“He’s only played a dozen or so games for Italy but that Italian squad is always blessed with talented players, especially defenders.
“He’ll be gutted, who wouldn’t be? But there’s no shame in missing out for that kind of squad.”
Ogbonna signed for West Ham from Juventus for £10million in 2015.
He has gone on to make 189 appearances for the club, scoring on 12 occasions.
In other news, West Ham given Lingard signing boost after key development.