Roberto Mancini expressed his regret following his reappointment as the Italy head coach, three years after he left the role for a lucrative position with Saudi Arabia.

In his first public comments, Mancini stated, “I’m very sorry. It was like losing the woman of your life. And it means you did something that shouldn’t have been done. So I’m sorry, very sorry also for everything that happened over these last three years.” He emphasized his commitment to restoring the national team to its former glory.

Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time led to significant changes within the team, including the resignations of Gabriele Gravina, the federation president, and Gennaro Gattuso, the head coach, shortly after their playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in April.

Mancini, who previously led the Azzurri to victory in the 2021 European Championship, stepped down in August 2023 before taking the helm of Saudi Arabia's national team just two weeks later. He took responsibility for the earlier miscommunication with Gravina, stating, “It was completely my fault.”

His return will see him face Belgium in the Nations League on 25 September at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. When asked about fan reception, Mancini acknowledged, “I realize some people will be against me. I’m hoping the squad plays well enough that maybe people will forgive me.”