Roberto Mancini has clear ideas for the National Team: technique, courage, and quality, with a starting formation that includes either the 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1, at least one full-back with license to push forward, and a series of certainties on which to build the Azzurri project. The head coach intends to restart from some fixed points, starting with Donnarumma in goal, Barella and Tonali in midfield, and Pio Esposito at the heart of the attack.

According to Corriere della Sera, Mancini wants to recover the best version of Barella, whose performances for the Azzurri declined after the previous coach’s tenure. For the coach, the Inter midfielder is untouchable. Gigio Donnarumma, who was embraced a few days ago at the goalkeeper’s wedding with Alessia, represents the team’s totem: best player of the European Championship, decisive penalty saver, now also captain and leader. A champion tied to the Azzurri, the only survivor from Bosnia ready to take the field with Baldini‘s experimental squad.

Tonali, who has just moved to Tottenham under De Zerbi, is currently considered the strongest midfielder in Italy, one of the best in Europe for strength, talent, and sense of goal. Among the new faces stands out Pio Esposito, the striker of the future, to be developed calmly while relying on Retegui, discovered by Mancini himself in Argentina and debuted in the National Team in Naples against England. Kean, another player launched by the coach, could play as a winger as he did at the start of his career.

The defense, however, presents several issues to resolve: there are no real markers, with Bastoni and Calafiori—the best of the group—better at building play than marking, while Buongiorno is injured. Chiellini and Bonucci are no longer there. The coach will closely follow the development of Scalvini and Ahanor, the growth of Comuzzo, the recovery of Leoni, and the progress of Coppola, but he may be forced to rely on the Roman Mancini. In a four-man defense, there is the question of whether it is possible to have two attacking full-backs like Palestra and Dimarco.

In midfield, a playmaker is needed: Locatelli represents the past, Fagioli is a candidate, Ricci and Rovella (central midfielders under Spalletti) are back in the spotlight, while Gaetano from Atalanta could be a surprise. On the wings, Mancini will try where Gattuso failed: to recover Chiesa. Cancellieri will join the group, as will Vergara. Zaniolo and Baldanzi could convince the coach to switch from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.

Youth will be at the center of the project: Kayode, Ndour, and Koleosho are on the coach’s list, along with Liberali from Como and Cacciamani from Torino. At the beginning of October, Baldini‘s Under 21 will play for first place in their European Championship group, an appointment that must be taken into account in managing young talents.

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