The Italian was overcome with emotion when asked by a reporter about what he had rediscovered during his recent two weeks with the squad and what he missed compared to his previous stint as head coach
Former Man City manager Roberto Mancini broke down in tears during a heart-wrenching interview as he remembered his late friend and colleague, Gianluca Vialli. The emotional moment came as Mancini was reflecting on his time with the Italy national team following their 3-1 Nations League victory over Turkey in Bologna yesterday.
The match had seen the Italian boss field a heavily reshuffled starting line-up, making nine changes in a risky experiment that was thoroughly tested when Kenan Şimşir cancelled out Gianluca Scamacca’s first-half opener.
However, Mancini’s second-half triple substitution rescued the fixture, with impact replacements Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito both finding the net to secure the win. Midfielder Issa Doumbia also delivered a stellar player-of-the-match performance, creating the decisive third goal to justify his manager’s tactical gamble.
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Asked by a reporter about what he had rediscovered during his recent two weeks with the squad and what he missed compared to his previous stint as head coach, the Italian was overcome with emotion. Initially focusing on the positives of the current camp and the resilience shown by his youthful squad against the Turks, Mancini praised the strong camaraderie developing among the players.
He told the interviewer: “I really liked the fact that, regardless of the results, the guys are creating a great group.”
However, when his thoughts turned to what was absent from the setup, the pain of losing his closest confidant was painfully evident. Reflecting on what he missed most about the national team environment, Mancini confessed: “And I missed Vialli.” He then softly repeated the name of his lifelong friend, “Luca Vialli,” before tears halted his words and he was applauded by the Italian media in the room.
Vialli tragically passed away at the age of 58 in January 2023 following a brave and lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. The Chelsea and Juventus legend had served as Mancini’s delegation chief during Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, which culminated in a historic penalty shootout victory over England at Wembley Stadium.
The pair shared a profound personal and professional bond that dated back to their playing days at Sampdoria in the 1980s and early 1990s, where their prolific partnership earned them the famous moniker ‘I Gemelli del Gol’ – the Goal Twins.
Their tearful, lingering embrace on the Wembley pitch after securing the European Championship remains one of the most iconic and touching images in modern football history.