Mancini eager for ‘new adventure’ on Italy return

Roberto Mancini expressed his enthusiasm for a new challenge coaching Italy, following his successful tenure leading the national team to Euro 2020 glory. During his first stint as Italy's coach, the Azzurri won the European Championship in 2020. However, Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, and Mancini left to manage Saudi Arabia.

The four-time world champions have not advanced past the knockout stage of the World Cup since losing the 2006 final to France. Mancini's second term as Italy's coach begins with a home Nations League match against Belgium on Friday. In his latest role, Mancini has called up a larger group of players, including nine new faces, to bolster his team for the upcoming matches.

Mancini, a former Italian midfielder, emphasized the importance of having young players to build a strong future squad, stating that winning is the ultimate objective for the next four years.