Newly-appointed Saudi Arabia national team coach Roberto Mancini has lashed out at the Italian Football Federation, FIGC, for treating him unfavorably. The longtime 58-year-old Azzurri boss decided to step down a couple of weeks ago at short notice, just ten months before the UEFA European Championships kick off in Germany next year.
Speaking in a telephone chat with the editorial director of Italpress agency, Italo Cucci, Mancini likened his treatment to that of infamous accused serial killer Pietro Pacciani, also known as the Monster of Florence.
“They treated me like the monster of Florence, yes, like Pacciani,” he disclosed. (via Tuttomercatoweb).
Nonetheless, the former Manchester City and Inter coach expressed his happiness at the confidence bestowed upon him by the Saudi Federation Federation.
“In recent days I have received an expression of full confidence in my person and appreciation of the work done over the years by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation which has chosen me for the prestigious position of Head Coach of the National Team, and whom I thank in the person of President Yasser Al Misehal.”
“I am thrilled to have accepted this new project which is based on sharing the strategic vision of growth in the football sector and in particular in the world of young people that I have always cared about. This assignment is a recognition of the value attributed to Italian football and also in this experience I will proudly bring our Italian spirit to the world.”
شريطٌ من الذكريات تبدأ بعده رحلة كتابة التاريخ مع الأخضر 🇸🇦🦅 pic.twitter.com/AhJzClKsyf
— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) August 27, 2023
Mancini will head Saudi Arabia into a new era, which now sees the Kingdom as an established behemoth attracting superstars from Europe.
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