Roberto Mancini might’ve joked he was ‘treated like a serial killer’ when quitting Italy to become coach of Saudi Arabia, but the President of the priest’s football team says ‘Dante would’ve sent him to Hell.’
The tactician took over the Azzurri in 2018 and went on to win the EURO 2020 trophy, but the situation soured after he failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
There was tension with the Federation and changes to his staff that he was not happy with, leading eventually to his resignation in mid-August.
Just a couple of weeks later, he signed a four-year contract as the new coach of the Saudi Arabia national team.
Speaking off the record to ITASportPress, Mancini was quoted as saying he was “treated like a serial killer” for this decision.
It was an exaggeration, but the condemnation continues to come down from all quarters.
The Mayor of Pesaro put in a formal request to remove Mancini’s status as testimonial for tourism in the Marche region, where he is originally from.
Even more damning, the President of the Italy team of priests made a remarkable evaluation of the situation.
“If I was to judge Mancini on a human level, I’d say it was not a good look,” Don Jordan Coraglia told Adnkronos.
“How can he show his face the next time he has anything to do with Italy? He would always be judged as the man who refused his country. Dante would’ve sent him to Hell.
“If the choice was dictated purely by money, then Mancini should know that he can’t take it with him at the end. As a Christian, you wonder what someone needs all this money for? Think of the human aspect.”
The legendary writer Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy epic poem about the Inferno set the template for many modern depictions of Hell, including his categorisation of where people go in the Nine Circles of Hell.
This is hilarious, what drama queens.
It is a freedom of choice religion has got nothing do with football,leave the man alone don’t be hypocritical.
I don’t blame the great man for leaving. Italian football has been ruined by the football federation for allowing too many foreigners into serie A. They had the power to change the game for the better and they betrayed their nation
he left because he knew that the talent in italy is not great worried about not qualifying for the euros or going into the playoff money was an issue but not all
Really!? People have short memories. He may have missed out on world cup qualification but he won an unexpected Euros and now he’s il Diavolo! Lol
@ Enrico, because the Saudis are loaded with talent? Money yes..
Mancini is not the only coach in Italy. Look for someone else to who can raise Italy’s football status to the level they used to be.
Being a great coach and most important it’s his choice to work where he chose to
Most of it as Saudi Arabua need to build good team hence they choose one of the best.leave relegion side and mind your business.
Saudi Arabia has the money not only to buy the best players or managers.
The Saudis won’t do squat under him because they have no credible talent.. coaching is not enough.
Mancini won the Euro and I am immensely thankful for that championship – but he really got stale fast. He stuck to the same lineup after that tournament and refused to infuse no blood, sticking with the likes of Ciro Immobile.
Spalleti should bring in a fresh new set of ideas and approach.