Mancini on Italy call-ups for Retegui, Kean, Zaniolo and surprise Pafundi inclusion

Former Italy national team head coach Roberto Mancini has spoken about his previous decisions to hand call-ups to strikers Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean, as well as Nicolo Zaniolo’s first experiences with the senior side and his surprise decision to select 16-year-old Simone Pafundi in 2022.

Mancini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento on Saturday, and also discussed his departure from his role as CT, his desire to return and his opinion on current incumbent Gennaro Gattuso. 

Mancini was the first to give a national team call-up to strikers Retegui and Kean, who are expected to start up front together when the Azzurri take on Estonia in World Cup qualifying on Saturday night. 

Retegui was a particularly intriguing selection, given that he had been playing in his native Argentina, and had never previously played in Italy before the call-up. 

“He jumped out at me, not because he was doing exceptional things, but because he had good understanding and the movement of a true striker, so we began to follow him closely and then called him up. 

“I’m happy because he improved a lot with Genoa and then Atalanta.” 

On Kean, Mancini added: “He already had a lot of qualities several years ago. Like a lot of youngsters, he slowed down a bit.