Italy’s Roberto Mancini: Luciano Spalletti Reignites the Controversy—Controversy Erupts Immediately
Luciano Spalletti breaks his silence on what has happened with the national team in recent weeks, and he does so with strong words. In the mixed zone following the Juventus-Nice 2-0 match, the former head coach commented on the chaos that has engulfed the FIGC and the decision to entrust the Azzurri’s helm to Roberto Mancini, following the whirlwind that led to Andrea Pirlo’s appointment and the almost immediate reversal, then to the resignations of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, and finally to Roberto Mancini’s return as head coach and Claudio Ranieri’s arrival as technical director.
“Paolo Maldini was the fresh face the Italian Football Federation needed,” Spalletti said on the sidelines of the friendly match won by his team. “It’s a bit like updating your phone—but you can’t do it if the phone is old. Instead of buying a new one, we stuck with what we had and didn’t make any updates. We shifted into the wrong gear; instead of shifting into fourth, we shifted back down to second.”
Spalletti’s comments are sure to spark debate in a context where the decisions made continue to raise questions among fans and insiders, beyond the leadership change marked by Gabriele Gravina’s departure and Giovanni Malagò’s election. The Certaldo-born coach himself knows the FIGC environment well, having been the man who, in the summer of 2023, stepped up following Mancini’s abrupt departure, and remained at the helm of the national team until June 2025.
Meanwhile, Mancini and Ranieri have begun the work that will lead them to the first goal of the Azzurri’s new era: the Nations League, which kicks off in September with home matches against Belgium on the 25th and an away match against Turkey on the 28th. It will be crucial for the Azzurri to finish in the top two, not only to qualify for the final stage but also to avoid the humiliation of relegation—which would be possible with a third-place finish (requiring a playoff against a Serie B team) and a very real possibility if they finish fourth.
