Why did Marotta and De Laurentiis choose Conte over Mancini for the Italian national team?
July 2, 2026 · Global
This article discusses the dynamics of selecting a new coach for the Italian national team, with special attention to Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, as well as the recently announced Juventus settlement agreement.
In the most luminous moment of the Enlightenment, Voltaire wrote a novel (“Candide, or Optimism”) solely to ridicule another philosopher, Leibniz, who was a staunch advocate that humanity lived in the best possible world. Not much different from those who believe, to argue more practically - but honestly more relevant, because once again we see the World Cup and Italy is not there -, that the great rejection of the Serie A clubs towards Roberto Mancini is related to the patriotism wounded by the departure of the Arab three seasons ago. Of course, we must maintain the illusion that even our country's leading sports executives - two examples: Beppe Marotta and Aurelio De Laurentiis - care about the national interest and are still embittered by Mancio's decision to accept a big offer and leave the azzurri team. They will be disappointed, no one doubts that. However, we must also say that around this incident, a narrative has been built fueled by the bad timing of the former (and possibly future) coach, who felt abandoned and saw Arab money as the best exit strategy: the problems between Mancini and the FIGC existed before, and would probably have ended like this even without the grandiose offer that angered many. Let's move on. The point is, first of all, considering that the executives of Serie A clubs, that is the same league that had no good intentions to give half a day to Gattuso - nothing would have changed, it is true, but at least it would have saved a departure and removed an alibi -, directing (or attempting to direct) the choice for the national team for the sake of love of homeland, risks being an exercise in sheer stupidity. The problem is that Antonio Conte, as we know, tires those who don't have the ability. And that terrifies anyone who risks encountering him at any time. This also applies to those who have been his colleagues, respect him, and understand what it means to run against him. Linking the Salento coach to the national team would mean taking him out of circulation for at least two years, maybe four. And not taking the risk that, for example, Juventus - if with Spalletti it doesn't work - did what they should have done years ago, brought him back. Or Milan - if the new direction signed by Amorim, with the help of Jorge Mendes, is not successful - finally make a decision that was too logical not to have taken earlier. Etc. The selection of a head coach of course also goes beyond this. And it involves the credibility of Giovanni Malagò, who has a lot, but chooses to be involved with a sport that in Italy is worth the same as all the other disciplines combined. FIGC is under CONI, right. However FIGC is more valuable than CONI. And have more difficulties. Malagò is testing some of them: if it were up to him, he would already have Mancini on the bench. And we can discuss those options, of course, but that will be his choice. Taking another direction - namely Conte - to conform to the ideas of their great electorate is not a scandal, in fact: no man is an island, managing football with the support of those who drive it can also be something good and right. However, if that happened, it wouldn't even be a great exercise of autonomy. It is to solve the problem that Malagò is trying to convince Paolo Maldini – the only former great with a background as a sports executive “on the pitch”, and this should make us think – to take on this responsibility and choose a head coach. Let's just wait. Then there is also another consideration: anyone who wants to become president of the Football Federation can run for office and, if they get the votes, win. Just like Malagò did. A shadow president isn't necessary, unless we go back to the federal commissions of the '30s, which would also be a good idea: at least, in the light of day. A quick note about Juventus. In the last few hours, a settlement agreement has arrived, even the wall knew it was coming. The fine is significant - 20 million euros in fine, of which 14 million is conditional, is a heavy sanction -, but it can also be a kind of blessing. Juventus, over the last few seasons, have not spent little: they have spent badly. It's all very different. Now they have chosen the right executive, someone like Giovanni Carnevali, someone who knows how to deal with the world, knows the players, leads certain dynamics, has honed his skills before the most challenging surge. He has everything to succeed but, more than anything, he has to explain - to everyone in Turin, to the fans, also to us journalists - that a lot has gone wrong, and the real problem is not the money, but the choices made.
