Overview
- Mancini confirmed his departure from Al Sadd in a video posted late Saturday, a move reported and validated by multiple outlets.
- Several Italian and international media outlets name him the leading candidate to replace the current Italy coach, but the FIGC has not announced a formal appointment.
- The federation’s new leadership after the June 22 presidential vote is expected to decide the next step, and reports link Mancini’s candidacy to his reported relationship with Giovanni Malagò.
- Contract questions remain because Mancini signed with Al Sadd until 2028, so any return would likely require a mutual termination or financial settlement.
- The debate over his return mixes his strong record — Euro 2020 and a long unbeaten run plus Al Sadd’s April 2026 league title — with lingering public criticism over his 2023 move to Saudi Arabia and a pattern of early departures.