Roberto Mancini confirms ‘the Under-21 team needs to be closer to the senior squad’ and explains why he left Sandro Tonali and others to the Azzurrini.
There were reports today that Mancini had requested a new role within the Federation, making him not just the Italy coach, but also the supervisor of the various youth levels.
Speaking at a press conference today, he did not quite go that far, but did suggest greater unity between the different types of Nazionale.
“The Under-21 team needs to be closer to the senior squad, that is very important,” said Mancini.
“It is above all crucial now that we need lads to bring in from the future.”
The collaboration could see more of unified tactical idea between the coaches of the Under-20 side that reached the World Cup Final and the team going into the European Under-21 Championship.
That will include players like Milan midfielder Tonali, Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto and Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini, who stepped down from the senior Italy squad.
“We let some players go with the Under-21s because it is important for us to get to the Olympique. We hope to first and foremost get past the group phase, as we absolutely want to achieve the target of being in Paris in 2024.”
The top four teams in the European Championship will qualify for the Olympics, along with hosts France.
England cannot take a spot, as they compete in the Olympics as Great Britain.