Years ago I had the pleasure to fly on contract for an italian company and must say that in general I was treated very well and didnīt feel unwelcome at all.
There were some exceptions, like everywhere, however, those guys were really the ones at the low end of the capability scale, and therefore against everyone better qualified, no matter where from.
I also remember that more italian pilots were fed up with the fast careers the former military guys were offered, than with the foreigners who usually came with the type-rating and quite some hours on it.