Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini expressed regret over leaving the national team in 2023.
Sport.Biz reports that he explained the reasons for his decision.
"I want to clarify what happened three years ago. There was a communication problem between me and President Gravina (former president of the Italian Football Federation - ed.). If we had talked earlier, we would have solved this problem. I apologize a lot. The national team was always very important to me. For me, this is like losing the love of my life. That means I made a mistake and everything before that became meaningless. Thanks to President Giovanni Malagò, fate gave me another chance, and I am here to return Italy to where it deserves to be.
I want to win a major trophy with the national team, maybe even two trophies. And then, if possible, stay with the team for longer than my contract dictates", - Sky Sport Italia quotes Mancini.
Mancini coached the Italian national team from 2018 to 2023. Under his leadership, the Italians became European champions and two-time bronze medalists of the Nations League.