Mancini ‘would manage to smooth things out’ at Milan says former assistant | OneFootball

Former Milan midfielder and assistant to Roberto Mancini, Alberico Evani, believes that his partner in crime would be an ideal fit for the Rossoneri as a potential successor to Paulo Fonseca, as he ‘would manage to smooth things out’ at San Siro.

Reports over the last few days have linked Mancini with a move to Milan as a potential successor to Fonseca later down the line.

Though Milan sit in eight place in Serie A, 14 points off the top and eight points shy of the Champions League positions, Fonseca’s future is not under any immediate threat, but outlets in Italy continue to suggest potential replacements.

Former Italy and Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini

Before Mancini, there was also Maurizio Sarri, and also former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has been described as a less likely option.

Evani backs Mancini to replace Fonseca at Milan

Though Fonseca is still in his job, Evani believes that Mancini would be a great fit for the Milan dressing room.

“Mancini’s CV speaks for itself, he has coached some great teams. He has plenty of experience,” Evani said on a recent radio appearance on Rai Sport 1.

“I played with him and even back then he had a certain type of character. As a coach, he would manage to smooth things out: He would bring back that team spirit that Milan seem to be missing at the moment.”

Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini, Team manager Gabriele Oriali and Assistant coach Alberico Evani look on during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Italy and Wales at Olimpico Stadium on June 20, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Mancini and Evani worked closely together in the Italy national team set-up. Evani progressed through the youth ranks as a coach, before eventually being promoted to the senior team in 2018, serving as assistant coach. He was part of the coaching staff when Italy won EURO 2020 at Wembley in the summer of 2021.

Evani also followed Mancini to Saudi Arabia, serving as assistant head coach of the national team.

Before that, he was a pillar of the Milan midfield between 1980 and 1993, making 296 Serie A appearances for the Rossoneri.