Former Italy nationwide workforce head coach Roberto Mancini has spoken about his earlier selections at hand call-ups to strikers Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean, in addition to Nicolo Zaniolo’s first experiences with the senior facet and his shock choice to pick 16-year-old Simone Pafundi in 2022.
Mancini on the Competition dello Sport in Trento on Saturday, and likewise mentioned his departure from his function as CT, his need to return and his opinion on present incumbent Gennaro Gattuso.
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Mancini on Italy strikers, Zaniolo and Pafundi
AL RAYYAN, QATAR – JANUARY 25: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Saudi Arabia reacts in the course of the AFC Asian Cup Group F match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand at Schooling Metropolis Stadium on January 25, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photograph by Robert Cianflone/Getty Photos)
Mancini was the primary to provide a nationwide workforce call-up to strikers Retegui and Kean, who’re anticipated to start out up entrance collectively when the Azzurri tackle Estonia in World Cup qualifying on Saturday night time.
Retegui was a very intriguing choice, provided that he had been enjoying in his native Argentina, and had by no means beforehand performed in Italy earlier than the call-up.
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“He jumped out at me, not as a result of he was doing distinctive issues, however as a result of he had good understanding and the motion of a real striker, so we started to observe him carefully after which referred to as him up.
“I’m completely happy as a result of he improved so much with Genoa after which Atalanta.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates with teammates after scoring his workforce’s second aim in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photograph by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Photos)
On Kean, Mancini added: “He already had plenty of qualities a number of years in the past. Like plenty of children, he slowed down a bit.
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“For me, he was all the time good as a striker coming in from out facet, however as we speak, he’s even higher as a centre-forward due to his enchancment.”
Proper initially of his tenure, Mancini determined at hand a call-up to the teenage Zaniolo, who had not but performed in Serie A at that time of his profession.
“I watched Zaniolo with the U19s, he was a 12 months youthful,” Mancini defined. “I watched that European Championships, the one with Tonali, Scamacca and plenty of others. I assumed Zaniolo may develop into an excellent footballer after I noticed him.”
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 24: Serie A linked Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa and Italy reacts in the course of the first half of the Worldwide Pleasant between Ecuador and Italy at Crimson Bull Area on March 24, 2024 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photograph by Adam Starvation/Getty Photos)
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Equally, Mancini additionally handed a call-up to a 16-year-old Pafundi in 2022. Now 19, Pafundi is in Serie B, on mortgage with Sampdoria from Udinese.
“It was an incitement (to name him up), in fact. This man is a thriller: He’s younger, gifted, performed on the U20 world cup on the age of 18 and was nonetheless among the many greatest. How is he not enjoying in Serie A?”
