Two days after leaving command of the ItalyRoberto Mancini gave his version of his resignation and criticized the Italian Federation via the press, which in talks with former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti to take charge.
Criticized since his departure from ‘Azzurra’, Mancini gave an interview to four newspapers in the country, published this Tuesday (15).
“I didn’t kill anyone and I’m being treated, I think, in a way that I don’t deserve. They said a lot of things that don’t correspond to reality”, the coach told the daily Messaggero.
Mancini, who led Italy to the Euro 2021 title, denied that he left the team to take over the Saudi Arabia national team, without a coach since the departure of Frenchman Hervé Renard.
“For me, Italy has always been a priority. After so many years in office, I have received several proposals that I am going to study in the coming weeks, but for now there is nothing concrete (…) When something interests me, it will happen, but Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with it,” he told Corriere dello sport.
“It was the moment”
In addition to Saudi Arabia, which according to sources proposed a three-year contract of 25 million to 40 million euros (R$ 135 million to R$ 216 million at current quotations), the Mexico national team and several clubs would be interested in the Italian.
According to the coach, the reasons for his departure would have to be sought from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
“I had been thinking about it for months, it was time to leave because when some situations change internally, it means we are on the way to the end,” he explained to Corriere dello sport.
Mancini also spoke about changes in his coaching staff, decided by FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, with two of his assistants displaced to other functions.
“Have you ever seen a president change a coach’s technical commission? A year ago he wanted to change the team, I explained that he couldn’t take two people from me, from a group that worked in and that was champion of Europe”, laments Mancini in interview with La Repubblica.
According to the coach, when he expressed his doubts, Gravina didn’t try to hold him back. “If someone wants to keep you, things can change.”
millionaire termination
To replace him, the FIGC is thinking of Antonio Conte, who already managed the national team between 2014 and 2016, and Luciano Spalletti, Italian champion with Napoli last season.
Spalletti is the favorite in general opinion, but his hiring would require solving a legal-financial hurdle. Although he has already left Napoli, he remains under contract until June 2024.
A clause provides that Spaletti can be released for 3 million euros (R$ 16 million), an amount that falls monthly by 250 thousand euros (R$ 1.3 million) until the end of the contract.
The president and owner of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, does not seem willing to hand over the coach to the FIGC, who, although he is optimistic, cannot afford to wait: the Italian team enters the field on September 9, against Macedonia do Norte, for the qualifiers for Euro 2024.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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