Spalletti the leading candidate for Italy job

Leaks emerging from the FIGC reportedly suggest that Luciano Spalletti is considered the primary target to replace Roberto Mancini as the head coach of the Italian national team.

The 58-year-old Mancini unexpectedly resigned from his post on Saturday night, thrusting the Italian FA into chaos just 10 months ahead of Euro 2024, which the Azzurri are still working to qualify for.

Many names have emerged as possible candidates for the role, ranging from Antonio Conte to Gennaro Gattuso, but one in particular has proved particularly exciting for both the fans and the FIGC.

Page two of today’s Corriere dello Sport details how FIGC president Gabriele Gravina’s preferred candidate is Spalletti and he is expected to join the former Napoli coach in Forte dei Marmi in the coming days to present the Azzurri project.

One issue is his exit clause with Napoli; the coach stepped away from his post in the Campania capital a year early this summer and has a €3m termination clause in his contract.

Mancini earnt €4.5m net per year with the national team and the same amount could be offered to Spalletti, who would be handed a three-year contract.

The former Napoli coach would seemingly be open to the move. Back in June, when discussing his future, he alluded to a possible role in the national team, saying: “Coaching a national team now would be very stimulating.

“From a professional point of view, it allows you to take a break every now and then, to go out and come back to work, to do the perfect speeches and wonderful training sessions. It would definitely be a nice solution.”