Roberto Mancini doesn’t think Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence is a huge boost for Italy – “Portugal are European champions…”
The Azzurri must beat Fernando Santos’ side tomorrow to have any chance of reaching the Nations League finals, and CR7 isn’t in the squad.
“Portugal have Bruma and Rafa Silva, they’re European champions,” Mancini pointed out in his pre-match Press conference.
Roberto Mancini doesn’t think Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence is a huge boost for Italy – “Portugal are European champions…”
The Azzurri must beat Fernando Santos’ side tomorrow to have any chance of reaching the Nations League finals, and CR7 isn’t in the squad.
“Portugal have Bruma and Rafa Silva, they’re European champions,” Mancini pointed out in his pre-match Press conference.
“Portugal remain a great team, they showed that in the European Championship final [when Ronaldo went off injured].
“They remain one of the best in terms of their style of play, they have extraordinary players in the offensive phase.
“I think it will be beautiful even without Cristiano, though we’d have liked him to be on the pitch.”
Mancio also confirmed that Alessia Romagnoli is injured, and that two youngsters will join the squad for the friendly with the U.S.A.
“Two players from the Under-21s will arrive, [Moise] Kean and [Gianluca] Mancini. They’ll be joined by [Francesco] Acerbi, who is in the squad because of Romagnoli’s problem.”
Mancini was also asked which players would be allowed to skip that game.
“[Giorgio] Chiellini, Jorginho, [Lorenzo] Insigne and [Alessandro] Florenzi.”