Italy’s Euro 2020-winning coach, Roberto Mancini, revealed on Sunday that he regretted leaving the Italian national team to take over Saudi Arabia.
Mancini departed the Azzurri in August 2023 to become Saudi Arabia’s coach, but he was fired in October following a string of dismal results during his 14-month tenure.
“If I could go back, I wouldn’t take the decision to leave the Nazionale (Italian national team) again, because coaching this national team is the most beautiful thing,” Mancini told public broadcaster Rai.
“Maybe the President of the Italian FA (Gabriele Gravina) and I didn’t understand each other, maybe we were just going through a difficult period, maybe things could have turned out differently, but I have nothing against him.”
After surprisingly resigning from the top job with Italy, the 60-year-old penned a deal worth a reported $25 million a year with Saudi Arabia, which would run through to 2027.
But after just seven victories in 18 matches, the Saudi federation decided to let go of the ex-Manchester City manager.
“My career speaks for itself,” Mancini said, adding that he did not join the Gulf kingdom side for money.
Rumours currently link Mancini with the Roma job at the end of the current season.
However, the former Italy international insisted that he was “not in contact with anyone”, before adding “but something will happen, it’s only a matter of time”.
