The problems are in the infrastructure and the stadiums. Italian stadiums are old and unattractive. They look like huge concrete prisons and not a place where you want to bring your family to enjoy a football match. Italian clubs don't own their stadiums, except Juventus. They rent them from the city.
Then there is the problem with fake merchandise that is being sold close to the stadiums which is actually unbelievable in the first place.
The President of Napoli talked about this when fans asked him why he doesn't invest more like Juventus does with Ronaldo. He told the fans they need to change their 'cheating' mentality and support the club instead. Stop manufacturing and distributing fake Napoli shirts and instead buy the official merchandise from the club. He also mentioned that Napoli fans are paying off the stewards who are checking the tickets to let them in for free.
There are so many things that need to change for Italian football to again be competitive.
That I have to agree with you but you cannot really generalize all Italian teams being left behind by their other European counterparts. Some of the top teams have really good training facilities and they have one of the most world class youth development facilities to date. And since I know A.C. Milan more I'll be talking about their recent moves with regards to their infrastructure. Aside from A.C. Milan having Casa Milan as their training facility Milan and Inter both agreed that they'll be constructing a new stadium to replace San Siro as their Home and I think that's a big start for two Serie A teams in the league.
Do you know, it's called San Siro when AC Milan play, next week, when Inter come here, the same stadium was called Giuseppe Meazza. So, two clubs, same field and two names. Is it normal? Just think what it will be if Man. United and Man. City play on the same ground or Liverpool and Everton to share one stadium. No way.