Veteran football coach Roberto Mancini has admitted to making a significant error by leaving the Italian national team for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia.
Mancini's tenure as Italy's head coach concluded on August 12, 2023, when he accepted a four-year deal to lead the Saudi Arabian team. However, this decision quickly turned sour as he was dismissed just a year into his contract following a series of poor performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to Il Giornale, Mancini expressed his regret, stating, "No, I wouldn’t make the choice to leave the Italy bench again." He emphasized the importance of the trust-based relationship he had with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), which he now realizes was crucial to his success.
Mancini reflected on the breakdown of communication with FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, noting, "If I could go back, I would approach everything differently. If Gravina and I had spoken, explained, clarified, things probably wouldn’t have gone this way."
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