has admitted he can not carry himself to look at the 2026 World Cup, describing Italy’s third consecutive absence from the event as a ache that continues to be too uncooked to confront, at the same time as a spectator.
Chatting with Sky Sport, , the Roma centre-back was candid about how deeply the qualification failure has affected him.
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Mancini was on the pitch in Zenica throughout one of many key moments of the play-off defeat to Bosnia, simply earlier than Bastoni’s crimson card that successfully ended Italy’s hopes.
“I can converse as a participant who didn’t obtain World Cup qualification,” Mancini stated.
“It’s a ache, it hurts. I’m not watching the matches, I can not. I watch the highlights, however not the total video games. It hurts to not be there.”
ROME, ITALY – MAY 17: Gianluca Mancini of AS celebrates after scoring the opening aim in the course of the Serie A match between AS Roma and at Stadio Olimpico on Could 17, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Paolo Bruno/Getty Photos)
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Mancini seems ahead to Champions League with Roma after disappointment
On the broader situation of Italy’s repeated failures, didn’t search for straightforward excuses.
“If we have now not certified thrice, it’s not only a drawback of younger gamers, youth sectors and coaches,” he stated. “It’s greater than that. We hope to resolve it within the coming years.”
Regardless of the frustration, Mancini was notably upbeat about Roma’s Champions League return.
“After the match in , embracing , I considered it,” he stated. “I imagined the stadiums, somewhat tune I’ve by no means heard in my profession. It’s lovely even simply to think about it, I can not wait to play within the competitors.”