According to Sky Sport Italia, Roberto Mancini is eager to increase Italy’s team spirit ahead of the World Cup play-offs in March and met Milan, Atalanta and Inter players for dinner last night.
La Nazionale have yet to book their place for the 2022 World Cup after finishing as runner-up in their qualification group. Italy will meet North Macedonia in the play-offs semi-finals in March and could face Turkey or Portugal in the Final.
Mancini seems to be taking care of every detail on and off the pitch ahead of next month’s crucial matches and according to Sky Sport Italia, he met Inter, Milan and Atalanta players at a restaurant in Milan yesterday.
Alessio Romagnoli, Davide Calabria, Alessandro Florenzi, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Stefano Sensi, Matteo Pessina and Rafael Toloi reportedly attended the informal dinner and Mancini, accompanied by his assistant Gabriele Oriali, gave a motivational speech.
It is understood that the CT will do the same with other Serie A players, meeting those of Juventus and Torino up north and those of Napoli, Fiorentina, Sassuolo, Roma and Lazio in centre Italy over the coming weeks.
Mancini organizza una "cena azzurra" a Milano in vista dei playoff#SkySport #Mancini #Italia #Nazionale https://t.co/fyoTDt4Kwh
— skysport (@SkySport) February 22, 2022
Why invite Tonali?! It makes sense…
Very good idea for Roberto Mancini and Gabriele Oriali to have done this. Shows unity and gives good motivation for the players to do their up most best.