Roberto Mancini is officially a free agent, and his return to the Italian national team has never been closer. The manager, who made history with Manchester City by winning the Premier League, has announced his departure from the Qatari club, paving the way for a new chapter in his career.
Kylian Mbappe has urged Didier Deschamps to bow out of international football on a high rather than take charge of another national team after the 2026 World Cup. The France captain admitted he is trying to influence his manager's future plans and described a potential move to Italy as "awful" as Les Bleus prepare for one final campaign under their long-serving coach.
Four nations will make debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan set to grace the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It will be the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and all will have ambitions of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages.
We are now just hours away from the start of the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 teams having made their way to North America with dreams of glory driving them. All of the pre-qualifying favourites made it safely through, including Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant Italy job after expressing a strong desire to lead the Azzurri. The Spanish tactician, who is currently a free agent, has publicly flirted with the idea of taking over the national team as they look to rebuild following a catastrophic period on the international stage.
Interim Italy manager Silvio Baldini has launched a fiery critique against the administration of the national game while warning the federation against pursuing unrealistic managerial targets. The veteran coach expressed deep frustration over systemic issues ahead of the national team's upcoming friendly fixtures, calling for local leadership to rebuild the setup.
Antonio Conte has officially confirmed his departure from Napoli, bringing an end to a high-octane two-year tenure at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Italian tactician revealed that his decision to step down was made a month ago, citing a fractured atmosphere and a lack of internal harmony as primary reasons for his exit.
Douglas Costa has explained the biggest difference between Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti after working under both managers at Bayern Munich. The former Brazil international also suggested a surprise international role for the Manchester City boss.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte is reportedly prepared to terminate his contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona by mutual consent at the end of the current campaign. The former Chelsea and Juventus tactician is said to have set his sights on securing a second stint with the Italy national team after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
In a world where football transfers dominate the headlines, Gianluigi Donnarumma decided to use the same terminology for his personal life. The Manchester City goalkeeper has revealed that he is officially off the market after marrying his long-term partner Alessia Elefante. The Italy international took to social media to share the news, using a clever footballing metaphor to describe the lifelong commitment.
Rumours that four-time champions Italy, who were knocked out in the play-offs, could replace the qualified team Iran at the World Cup have gained fresh momentum.
Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon has opened up on the most infamous moment in World Cup history, jokingly claiming responsibility for Zinedine Zidane's moment of madness in the 2006 final. The legendary goalkeeper believes his own heroics between the sticks pushed the French icon over the edge before his shocking headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
Leonardo Bonucci has identified Pep Guardiola as the ideal candidate to lead a revolution for the Italy national team. The legendary defender believes the Manchester City boss is the only man capable of modernising Gli Azzurri after their third successive failed World Cup qualification campaign.
Carlo Ancelotti has urged Italy to reclaim the defensive identity that once made the nation the most feared in world football. The Brazil boss believes an obsession with modern tactical trends has left the Azzurri fragile and lacking elite standards, resulting in a third straight failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Cesc Fabregas has insisted that he remains fully committed to his long-term project at Como amid links with Chelsea and the Italy national team. The 38-year-old manager emphasised his family's happiness at the Serie A club and his desire for daily involvement on the training pitch as key reasons for staying put.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has warned Antonio Conte that he would be "killing his baby" if he leaves the club to take the reins of the Italy national team. The outspoken owner has expressed his confidence that the coach will continue the project he has built in Naples rather than walking away at a crucial stage.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has issued a stern warning to the media, firmly denying reports that he has declared his availability to take over the vacant Italy national team job. The former Chelsea manager expressed intense frustration over recent speculation, insisting he remains fully committed to his current club contract and demanding accurate reporting to maintain focus.
Italy missed out on qualification for the upcoming showpiece in USA, Mexico and Canada, but they might reportedly get one last chance to book their ticket after all, even if Fifa remains confident no emergency scenarios are required
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