Roberto Mancini’s son claims the decision to resign from the Italy job on August 13 was far from sudden. ‘It had been over for a while, he no longer felt they had faith in him.’
The coach took the Azzurri to victory at EURO 2020, but then failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
After playing the Nations League Final Four over the summer, Mancini was given a new role as co-ordinator of the various youth teams, but just days later he resigned.
“He is not the first, nor will he be the last to resign,” Andrea Mancini told Il Secolo XIX newspaper.
“And it was not a bolt from the blue either. It had been over for a while between him and the Nazionale, but he loved the team and if certain things had not happened, then he would’ve remained.”
Mancini was blasted by critics for chasing the money after instead signing a contract to 2027 to lead the Saudi Arabia national team, reportedly earning €20m per year.
“The Arabian offer arrived afterwards and I would dare 100 people to say no to a contract like that. I think few, very few, would turn it down.
“My father in the past turned down other important offers for his love of the Nazionale, but if he feels there is no longer faith in him, then he will leave.”
Mancini repeatedly complained at the lack of Italian players in Serie A who get regular time on the pitch and his son continued along a similar path of protest.
“My father was criticised for calling up a player born in 2006 like Simone Pafundi, but at Barcelona there are players born in 2007, whereas he has very few Serie A appearances for Udinese.”
In two games on the Saudi Arabia bench, Mancini has so far suffered two friendly defeats to Costa Rica and South Korea.