Mancini Regrets Leaving The Italian National Team To Train Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - Roberto Mancini revealed a decision that eventually turned out to be regretful. Leaving the Italian national team to train Saudi Arabia in 2023 turned out to be a regret that the coach could not forget.

Mancini served as Italy coach for six years. During that period, he even succeeded in escorting the Nerazzurri to win Euro 2020.

However, in 2023 Mancini chose to leave his post to get closer to Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, Mancini's journey with The Green Falcons did not go smoothly.

Mancini has never won in the first four games, drew once and lost three times.

The peak of the disappointment of Saudi Arabian supporters against Mancini occurred during the Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualification. Saudi Arabia was held to a draw by the Indonesian national team and had to struggle to win over China.

Then, The Green Falcons lost 0-2 to Japan and the series against Bahrain. The failure to win in those two matches left Mancini fired from the Saudi Arabian coaching chair.

Less than two months after the dismissal, Mancini admitted that his decision to leave Italy for a career in Saudi Arabia was an inappropriate decision.

"I will not make that choice again for technical reasons and football. Coaching the national team (Italy) in my opinion is the most beautiful thing," Mancini told RAI TV quoted on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

On the same occasion, the former Manchester City coach also compared conditions when he coached Italy and Saudi Arabia.

"Maybe we don't understand each other. If in difficult times President Gravina (President of FIGC) and I talk more, maybe the results will be different," said Mancini.

Even so, Mancini chose not to comment much on the rumors of moving to Saudi Arabia because he got a big fee.

"My story speaks for me. Anyone who doesn't know the story should read it again," said Mancini.