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Mancini regrets: I shouldn't have left Italy for Saudi Arabia

2024-12-24 19:05:00, Sport CNA

Mancini regrets: I shouldn't have left Italy for Saudi Arabia

Leaving the management of Italy is one of the hostages of Roberto Mancini. The 60-year-old coach, who remains in the history of Italian football for the sensational triumph in the 2021 European Championship, left the "Axurres" in August 2023, moving to the bench of the Saudi Arabian national team. His departure came after a tense period with the Italian Football Federation and a hefty financial offer from the Saudis that seemed irresistible.

However, Mancini's adventure in the Middle East lasted much less than expected. The coach, who had signed a contract until 2027, was sacked after just one year due to a lack of results. In charge of Saudi Arabia, Mancini recorded just seven wins in 18 games, a poor record that did not justify the high expectations attached to his name and the huge financial investment the Saudi federation had made in him.

Reflecting on his decision to leave Italy, Mancini admitted in an interview with "Rai" that, if he could go back in time, he would have avoided leaving the national team.

"If I could go back in time, I would not have made the decision to leave the management of Italy. Leading that national team was the most beautiful thing. "Maybe we didn't handle things right with the president of the Italian Federation, maybe we were in a difficult period, maybe it could have gone differently, but I have nothing against him," said Mancini.

After his departure, Italy has suffered the lack of a consistent leader on the bench. Although manager Luciano Spalletti, who took over from Mancini, has tried to restore stability, the first steps of the new era have been complicated. Meanwhile, Mancini is unemployed, reflecting on a tumultuous year that saw him walk away from a successful project and end up empty-handed in an adventure that didn't fulfill him either financially or professionally.





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