Roberto Mancini is back as the new CT of the Nazionale italiana after Giovanni Malagò chose him on 28 July, a decision that immediately shifts the focus back to the man who delivered the Europei del 2021 before the disappointment of the Mondiale in Qatar.
The timing matters. The Consiglio Federale had only started a little more than five minutes earlier when the report emerged, with the new national-team structure already taking shape around Mancini’s return and the possibility of Claudio Ranieri in the director tecnico role.
Mancini’s return changes the picture
This is not just a routine appointment. Mancini’s previous cycle with the Nazionale brought the European title in 2021, but it also ended with failure to reach the World Cup in Qatar. That contrast is what makes this comeback such a significant moment for the FIGC.
For the national team, the question now is whether a familiar figure can restore stability and authority quickly enough. Mancini already knows the pressure that comes with leading the Nazionale, and he returns with both success and frustration attached to his name.
Claudio Ranieri in the background
The wider leadership discussion is not over yet. The report says the structure around the team may include Claudio Ranieri as director tecnico, which suggests the FIGC is shaping a broader reset rather than simply making one isolated change.
There was also a brief exchange around the margins of the day’s events. Giorgio Chiellini said: “Ci tenevo a precisare che io sono contento del mio ruolo nella Juve e voglio continuare a supportare Carnevali.” And Giovanni Malagò’s line — “Più di offrirvi un caffè non posso fare” — underlined how guarded the process remained before the formal announcement points were fully settled.
What is clear is that the central answer has now been provided: Roberto Mancini is the man chosen to lead the Nazionale italiana again. The next stage will be seeing how the full national-team hierarchy is completed and how quickly the new cycle can move from appointment to performance.
