The newspaper ‘Il Messaggero’ on newsstands today reports the first declarations of Roberto Mancini after the Jesi coach’s decision to leave, by mutual agreement with the federation, the role of Technical Commissioner of Saudi Arabia: “Patience is needed in Saudi, especially now that the local players are no longer regulars in the clubs. The managers are also very good but there is still no great experience for high level football”, declared Mancini who is leaving after 14 tormented months. In this period of time he achieved nine victories, seven draws and five defeats in 23 matches, but after the double match against Japan and Bahrain his farewell was now a foregone conclusion.
After failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar leading Italy, Mancini will not be manager in 2026 either and therefore will not take part in the next World Cup. “But qualification – he said – would have been a difficult operation due to the difficulties created by the arrival of so many foreigners. I didn’t even have 50% of the starters in the league.”
Together with Mancini, all his staff also greet Saudi Arabia. Salsano, Lombardo, Battara, Gregucci, Nuciari, Donatelli, Scanavino and Gagliardi will return home, while at the moment Luigi Di Biagio will retain the role of coach of the Saudi Under 23 team.