Roberto Mancini, the former Italian national team coach, is still on the lookout for a new opportunity following his disappointing stint with the Saudi Arabian national team. In a recent interview with Il Giornale, Mancini addressed the rumours that had linked him to the AS Roma managerial position after Ivan Juric’s dismissal.
While the Friedkin family, Roma’s owners, had seriously considered Mancini’s candidacy, an agreement was never reached. Instead, the club opted for Claudio Ranieri, who accepted the role for the third time in his career and made his debut in the recent loss against Napoli.
Mancini shared his thoughts on the situation, stating, “I was never contacted by Roma, no call from the management. I was pleased to read that many Roma fans would have been happy about it and many Lazio fans would have been pissed off. If there had been the conditions for a good project to carry forward together, I would have said yes.”
The possibility of Mancini taking the reins at Roma faded before it could fully materialize. However, the club’s ownership had genuinely considered him along with other candidates such as Vincenzo Montella, currently Turkey’s national team coach, and foreign options like former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic.
Mancini’s appeal and international experience made him a strong contender, especially considering his last stint in Serie A was with Inter Milan from 2014 to 2016. Ultimately, Roma settled on Ranieri, a choice that offers a strong emotional connection with the fanbase and the possibility of planning for the future with greater tranquillity.
The decision to appoint Ranieri also provides Roma with a way to absorb the financial impact of the double dismissals of Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric, with the former contracted until 2027 and the latter until June 2025.
