Text size

Italy’s Euro 2020-winning coach Roberto Mancini admitted on Sunday that he regrets leaving the Italian national team to take control of Saudi Arabia.

Mancini left the Azzurri in August 2023 to take over as Saudi coach, but was sacked from his post in October after a series of poor results during his 14-month spell as coach.

“If I could go back, I wouldn’t make the decision to leave the Nazionale (Italian national team) again because coaching this national team is the best thing,” Mancini told public broadcaster Rai.

“Maybe the president of the Italian Football Federation (Gabriele Gravina) and I didn’t get along, maybe we were just going through a difficult time, maybe everything could have turned out differently, but I have nothing against him.”

After unexpectedly stepping down from his top job at Italy, the 60-year-old signed a contract with Saudi Arabia worth a reported $25 million a year, which would run until 2027.

But after just seven wins in 18 games, the Saudi association decided to let go of the former Manchester City coach.

“My career speaks for itself,” Mancini said, adding that he didn’t move to the Gulf Kingdom for the money.

There are currently rumors linking Mancini with a job at Roma at the end of the current season.

However, the former Italy international insisted he was “not in contact with anyone” before adding: “But something will happen, it’s just a matter of time.”