The coach has resigned while Azzurra unexpectedly commands
Coach Roberto Mancini has blamed Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina for his abrupt departure from the Azzurri.
Mancini announced his resignation last Sunday (13), taking fans and journalists by surprise, given that he had just acquired more power in the FIGC structure, with the coordination of the under 20 and 21 teams.
“I tried several times to talk to Gravina and explain my reasons. I explained to him that he needed to reassure me. He didn’t and I resigned,” the coach said in an interview with the Italian newspapers.
Mancini also accused the cylinder of alienating some of his closest associates. “Where have you ever seen a president of a federation change teams to the coach? It has been a while since [Gravina] he thought the opposite of me,” he said.
However, the coach denied that the resignation was linked to the recent appointment of former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as the new head of delegation of the Italian national team, replacing the late Gianluca Vialli, a longtime friend of Mancini.
“I knew that the president Gravina would have chosen Gianluigi, and it was the right solution after Vialli’s farewell. Nothing against him”, guaranteed the coach, who also said he had no proposals yet. “My resignation is not linked to an agreement,” he assured.
Mancini had coached Italy since 2018 and was crowned Eurocopa champion in 2021, but was also marked by failure in the European play-offs for the 2022 World Cup, when the Azzurri were eliminated by North Macedonia.
The favorite to replace Mancini is Luciano Spalletti, national champion with Napoli last season and currently without a team.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
