Former City boss looking to get back into management.
Former Manchester City and Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has hinted he would be interested in managing the Italian national team when Cesare Prandelli steps down after next summer’s World Cup, according to the Daily Express.
The Italian was sacked by City at the end of last season, following a shock defeat for his side in the FA Cup final to underdogs Wigan, and is yet to take up a job at a new club.
The 48-year-old had been linked with a return to his old club Inter this summer, though it never materialised, and it now seems that his return to managament could come in the form of a role with his national team next year.
As a player, Mancini won 36 caps for his country, and may be in line to replace current manager Prandelli, who is not planning to continue in the role beyond next summer’s tournament in Brazil.
Speaking about the possibility of taking the job, Mancini said: “Prandelli is there right now, so we’ll have to see what will happen in the future.
“But the national team is certainly not something secondary to anything, it can only be a priority.
“It will all depend on what the project for the future is, but, I repeat, the national side is always the national side.
“Today the tactician is Prandelli so we need to leave him in peace as he has got a hard year ahead of him.”
Prandelli has been in charge of Italy since 2010, and led the side to the final of last summer’s European Championships, where they were unfortunate to be on the end of a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Spain.
Juventus manager Antonio Conte has also been linked as a candidate for the post.