Mancini denies Saudi rumours after Italy exit, Spalletti hits roadblock

AFP | Rome

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com    

Roberto Mancini insists that a potential move to the Saudi Arabia national team is not the reason for his sudden decision to quit Italy which has sparked a contract row over his tipped successor Luciano Spalletti.

Mancini resigned on Sunday with less than a month until European champions Italy recommence their bid to qualify for Euro 2024 and has reportedly been offered 25 million euros to coach the Gulf nation.

But in interviews with four Italian newspapers all published yesterday he says he has made no decision about his future. “I’m a football manager and when I receive an offer that I like I will accept it.

But that’s not why I quit the national team,” said Mancini to Corriere Dello Sport. “Italy was always the number one for me.

After many years I’ve received plenty of offers which I will look at in the coming weeks but right now there is nothing solid.

“I’m a manager and I can’t just stop... but Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with it.”

Mancini had a mixed time in his five years as Italy coach, victory at Euro 2020 seeming to revitalise a troubled football nation.

But the Azzurri failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup following a disastrous play-off defeat to North Macedonia and the country no longer produces the sort of world class talent which helped make Serie A the world’s top football league.

Mancini’s resignation came as a major shock, as earlier this month the 58-year-old had been handed responsibility for the country’s Under-21 and Under-20 teams.

He was heavily criticised for his decision especially following reports that he was set to accept a mega-money move to Saudi.

But Mancini said that he stepped down as Azzurri coach because of disagreements with the head of Italy’s football federation Gabriele Gravina, in particular over his decision to make changes to his coaching staff.

“Have you ever seen the head of the federation change a manager’s coaching staff? I’m the one who should be making changes,” he said to La Repubblica.