Lucio Corsi Will Represent Italy at Eurovision 2025, As Olly Rejects His Participation

Last Saturday, Olly won “Sanremo 2025” with his song “Balorda Nostalgia”

The top 5 of the festival were:

According to the “Sanremo Festival” rules, the winner gets the first right to represent the country in Eurovision.
Olly had a week to decide whether would like to represent Italy in Eurovision 2025.

Olly shared the following post on his Instagram account

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A post shared by OLLY (@olly_nclusive)

I’ve been asking myself and asking everyone’s opinions for days, the answer is always the same: “in the end you have to do what you feel”, because everyone knows how much it means to me to be myself, always.
Well, I don’t think you would be sad if I moved concerts for Eurovision, but I firmly believe that I need to connect with everything that is happening to me, before looking even further ahead, before continuing with my beloved live apprenticeship that I always talk about with infinite pride.

I have therefore decided to give up the opportunity to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, with the awareness that it is one of those things that maybe only happen once in a lifetime.
I thank those who voted for me and gave me the opportunity to have this privilege: I hope to see you soon at one of my concerts to reciprocate all the love I’m receiving these days.

For me, this decision is my way of listening to myself and perhaps also my twisted way of saying thank you.
Some will say that I am giving up on a dream, well I think I have simply chosen to live it in my own time.

I wish a huge good luck to whoever takes my place: music in Italy is full of formidable artists and this year’s cast is the most sincere proof of that.
Always believe!
Something is changing and it is clear for all to see.

I hug you and see you on tour,

The singer indicates that he feels thankful for winning the festival.
It seems he prefers to continue with his planned tour of Italy.

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A post shared by OLLY (@olly_nclusive)

Italian broadcaster RAI has just released an official statement:
The runner-up Lucio Corsi accepted the invitation to represent Italy in Eurovision 2025, with his song “Volevo essere un duro” (Eng: I wanted to be tough):