Mancini Departs Al-Sadd, Links Resurface with Italy National Team
Roberto Mancini has officially parted ways with Al-Sadd, the Qatari champions, as announced by the club over the weekend. The seasoned coach, aged 61, is now speculated to be returning to his former role with the Italian national team.
Mancini, who led Italy to their significant triumph at EURO 2020, had signed a contract with Al-Sadd extending until 2027 following a previous stint that saw him managing the Saudi Arabian national side with little success.
Recent reports from Italian media indicate that Mancini is now viewed as the frontrunner to take over the managerial position with Italy, a team that has faced significant challenges, notably failing to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time. This situation comes on the heels of Gennaro Gattuso’s departure in April, following a defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina during World Cup qualifiers. Since Gattuso’s exit, Silvio Baldini, previously in charge of the under-21 squad, has taken over the reins.
Despite clinching the Qatar Stars League title, Al-Sadd did not manage to reach the latter stages of the AFC Champions League and was also unsuccessful in their bid for the Qatar Cup, losing in the final.
