Mancini on Italy call-ups for Retegui, Kean, Zaniolo and surprise Pafundi inclusion | OneFootball

Former Italy national team head coach Roberto Mancini has spoken about his previous decisions to hand call-ups to strikers Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean, as well as Nicolo Zaniolo’s first experiences with the senior side and his surprise decision to select 16-year-old Simone Pafundi in 2022.

Mancini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento on Saturday, and also discussed his departure from his role as CT, his desire to return and his opinion on current incumbent Gennaro Gattuso.

Mancini on Italy strikers, Zaniolo and Pafundi

AL RAYYAN, QATAR – JANUARY 25: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia reacts during the AFC Asian Cup Group F match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand at Education City Stadium on January 25, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Mancini was the first to give a national team call-up to strikers Retegui and Kean, who are expected to start up front together when the Azzurri take on Estonia in World Cup qualifying on Saturday night.

Retegui was a particularly intriguing selection, given that he had been playing in his native Argentina, and had never previously played in Italy before the call-up.

“He jumped out at me, not because he was doing exceptional things, but because he had good understanding and the movement of a true striker, so we began to follow him closely and then called him up.

“I’m happy because he improved a lot with Genoa and then Atalanta.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

On Kean, Mancini added: “He already had a lot of qualities several years ago. Like a lot of youngsters, he slowed down a bit.

“For me, he was always good as a striker coming in from out side, but today, he’s even better as a centre-forward because of his improvement.”

Right at the beginning of his tenure, Mancini decided to hand a call-up to the teenage Zaniolo, who had not yet played in Serie A at that point of his career.

“I watched Zaniolo with the U19s, he was a year younger,” Mancini explained. “I watched that European Championships, the one with Tonali, Scamacca and lots of others. I thought Zaniolo could become a great footballer when I saw him.”

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 24: Serie A linked Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa and Italy reacts during the first half of the International Friendly between Ecuador and Italy at Red Bull Arena on March 24, 2024 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Similarly, Mancini also handed a call-up to a 16-year-old Pafundi in 2022. Now 19, Pafundi is in Serie B, on loan with Sampdoria from Udinese.

“It was an incitement (to call him up), of course. This guy is a mystery: He’s young, talented, played at the U20 world cup at the age of 18 and was still among the best. How is he not playing in Serie A?”