Three reasons why Mancini’s Italy return hasn’t gone down well with everyone | OneFootball

Roberto Mancini is now back in charge of the Italy national team after a turbulent few weeks for the Azzurri and the FIGC, but his appointment has not pleased everybody within the Nazionale set-up. Here are three reasons why some oppose the return of the EURO 2020 winner.

On Tuesday, it was officially confirmed that Mancini would be returning to his former role as head coach of the Italy national team. This came after a rollercoaster few weeks for the FIGC, which saw Paolo Maldini appointed as technical director on July 12, only to resign after 17 days in the job.

Italy technical director Paolo Maldini, special advisor Leonardo, FIGC President Giovanni Malagò and Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli (figc.it)

Maldini had originally attempted to convince Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola as head coach of the Italy side, before moving on to Andrea Pirlo, whose appointment was later blocked due to his ties with a Russian betting company.

With no agreement over the appointment of a new head coach in place, Maldini and his advisor Leonardo left their positions with the FIGC on Tuesday.

Maldini has since been replaced by Claudio Ranieri, and it has been confirmed that Mancini will be returning as head coach. There have also been suggestions that Gianfranco Zola could complete the national team set-up in the role of delegation chief.

Why do some still oppose Mancini’s return to the Italy set-up?

ENSCHEDE, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 15: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Despite the fact that Mancini was in charge the last time that Italy won a major trophy, his appointment has not gone down well with everybody.

Some are upset about the fact that FIGC President Giovanni Malagò ultimately had the final say in Mancini’s appointment, on top of the fact that Mancini and Malagò share a close, long-standing personal relationship.

There are others, particularly within the Lega Serie A, who thought there were better or more suitable options available. The Lega Serie A specifically had been keen for Antonio Conte to return to the role of Italy head coach.

Additionally, there are some who are still upset about the way that Mancini left the Italy job last time he was in charge. Mancini had resigned in August 2023, just a few weeks before a crucial set of EURO 2024 qualifiers, in order to take over the position of head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team.

This was a job offer that reportedly brought Mancini a salary in the region of €20m per season. La Gazzetta dello Sport details that Mancini tendered his resignation remotely while he was on holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The fact that Mancini took 10 members of staff with him for the Saudi Arabia job, the majority of whom had been part of the Italy set-up, did not go down particularly well in FIGC circles either.

Twitter: @SaudiNT

On the flip side, La Gazzetta dello Sport argues that Mancini’s decision to leave the Italy set-up in 2023 was not purely down to financial motivations. Mancini had also seen several key and trusted members of his coaching staff replaced prior to leaving, including the likes of Alberio Evani, Attilio Lombardo and Giulio Nuciari.

In the end, Mancini’s spell in charge of the Saudi Arabia national team lasted just over a year, and La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that after a contract termination, Mancini is likely to have received just shy of €25m for his work while in the Middle East.