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Roberto Mancini says questions about his contract during his time as Manchester City manager were the club's "issue, not mine", after they were reportedly found guilty of all but one of 115 Premier League charges for breaching financial regulations.Mancini managed City between 2009-2013, and guided them to a first English top-flight title in 44 years, as well as an FA Cup victory.Among the club's alleged breaches are failures to provide accurate details for player and manager payments for nine seasons, beginning from the year Mancini took charge."It's not an issue that concerns me. It's nothing new because this matter has been discussed for the last four or five years," Mancini, now Italy coach, told reporters ahead of his side's UEFA Nations League match in Turkey."Manchester City has not been found guilty, and the alleged double contract is not my concern. It's their issue, not mine."On Friday, it was widely reported that an independent commission had decided City were guilty of 114 charges relating to breaches of financial rules.But no official announcement has been made by the Premier League and there is no firm indication of any potential sanction.City have strenuously denied the charges and their chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak on Saturday said he is still confident of proving the club's innocence.City are expected to appeal against their eventual punishment, which is yet to be announced and could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine. 

* Italy face Belgium, Turkey and France in a demanding Nations League schedule* Mancini says fan anger over past failures is justified but urges unity* Coach says compressed four-match window requires a larger group and rapid assessments* FIGC replaced injured Dimarco with Ruggeri after Cristante's earlier withdrawal Roberto Mancini set a demanding tone as Italy gathered on Monday, insisting on immediate progress while mounting a strong defense of his heavily overhauled squad for his first match back as coach.Speaking ahead of UEFA Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Turkey, and France, Mancini defended his decision to hand first call-ups to nine players while omitting experienced stalwarts of the team."Had I called all the experienced players, you would have said, 'always the same players,'" Mancini told reporters. "It is appropriate to get to know young players to build a strong team for the future. We needed more players than usual because we have four games and want to see them on the pitch.""We don't know how long it will take, but we'll have to be quick in understanding the players we have and figuring out what they can give us in the future," he added. LINGERING FRUSTRATION OVER ITALY'S PAST FAILURESAddressing lingering frustration over Italy's past failures, including missing out on a third consecutive World Cup this year, Mancini acknowledged fans' right to be upset but called for unity."The past doesn't count anymore," Mancini said. "When a fan feels betrayed, he has the right to be upset, and you have to accept it. We must do things well and bring the national team where it belongs so things will settle."Mancini returned to the bench following a chaotic summer for the Italian football federation. He took over after Gennaro Gattuso's departure and a brief, fraught attempt to appoint Andrea Pirlo collapsed amid a fierce backlash over Pirlo's commercial ties to a Russian betting company. The situation got newly elected Italian football federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago off to a rocky start, but Mancini dismissed any sense of internal pressure ahead of Friday's opener in Rome against Belgium."The president is calm, so we must think about our job, do well and win the first game against Belgium, which won't be so easy," Mancini noted. "We must think about our duties."The FIGC confirmed squad adjustments as Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Aston Villa's Matteo Ruggeri, following the earlier replacement of AS Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante by Como's Samuele Ricci. 

Roberto Mancini has launched his second tenure as Italy head coach with a sweeping rebuild, naming an expanded 34-man roster on Friday for their Nations League games as the team try to rebound from missing out on the 2026 World Cup.Mancini returned to the bench following a chaotic summer for the Italian federation, taking over after Gennaro Gattuso left and a brief, fraught attempt to appoint Andrea Pirlo collapsed amid a fierce backlash over Pirlo's commercial ties to a Russian betting company.Among nine players receiving their first senior international call-ups are Brentford fullback Michael Kayode, Monza defender Eddie Kwaidoo, Borussia Dortmund's Samuele Inacio and winger Mohamed Ali Zoma who plays for second-tier Bundesliga side 1. FC Nurnberg.In a move highlighting Mancini’s intention to reform the squad's core, several high-profile figures were omitted, most notably Mateo Retegui. The Argentine-born striker, who proved pivotal during Mancini's previous reign, was left out despite a strong start to the season in Saudi Arabia, where he has scored four goals in seven league matches.Cagliari's Daniel Maldini was called up, just days after his driving licence was suspended following a car crash in Milan where he was found to be over the legal alcohol limit.Italy begin their campaign on September 25 when they face Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, followed by games against Turkey and France.Italy squad:Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus)Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolo Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham)Forwards: Nicolo Cambiaghi (Bologna), Francesco Esposito (Inter), Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Moise Kean (Como), Daniel Maldini (Cagliari), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese), Mohamed Ali Zoma (Nurnberg) 

Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini expressed deep pride after leading his side to the Qatar Stars League title for the third consecutive season on Monday, stressing that the achievement reflected 'the significant work carried out within the club throughout the campaign, as well as the team’s stability and continuous development'. On Monday Al Sadd beat Al Shamal 3-2 in the final round of the QSL campaign at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Al Sadd have now won the league crown for the 19th time.  Speaking after the title triumph, Mancini, 61, said on Monday: “First of all, I would like to congratulate the players, the technical and administrative staff, and Al Sadd fans on this important title. Winning the league for the third consecutive time is not easy; it is the result of daily hard work and great commitment from everyone within the team. From the beginning of the season, we knew the challenge would be difficult, but the players showed strong character and a winning mentality that helped us overcome every obstacle.”**media[439756]**Mancini, who joined Al Sadd last November, added on Monday: “What distinguishes Al Sadd this season is that we did not rely on one player or a specific group. We had a complete team capable of finding solutions in different situations. We were the most consistent in terms of performance compared to other teams, and we were able to impose our playing style in most matches. This reflects the great work done by the players in daily training.” Mancini also noted that the title race was highly competitive, saying: “This season’s league was full of challenges, and all teams performed well. What made the difference for us was our high level of focus and constant desire to win. When you have a group that believes in what it does and works with a unified spirit, results come naturally in the end.”**media[439757]**He concluded in a story posted on Al Sadd website: “I am also proud of the individual development many players have shown throughout the season. We saw clear improvement in physical, technical, and mental aspects, which is an important part of the team’s project. Success is not only about winning titles, but also about developing players and maintaining the team’s identity.” 

Al Sadd will be fighting to keep their AFC Champions League Elite hopes alive when they host Shabab Al Ahli on Tuesday, with the Qatari side languishing on just two points from five matches. Victory for the UAE club would confirm their place in the round of 16.Roberto Mancini’s first continental outing as Al Sadd coach ended in a 3-1 defeat to fellow Emirati side Al Wahda, and the Italian will be demanding a far more resilient performance from his players at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.The two sides meet for the first time since 2014, with Al Sadd winless in the competition this season and having lost their last three matches in all competitions.Ahead of the encounter, Mancini stressed the importance of the fixture to Sadd’s qualification hopes. “We have a very important match ahead of us against a strong opponent. We will play to win so that we can climb the league standings,” Mancini said. “We are suffering from a shortage of players due to some joining their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as injuries. Their absence will certainly have an impact, but despite that we are ready for the match.”The former Italy coach acknowledged the challenge posed by Shabab Al Ahli but underlined his side’s determination to remain in contention. “We know our position in the standings and we must do our best to maintain our hopes in the competition,” he said. “We will approach the match with the ambition to win, even though the task is difficult against a strong competitor with many distinguished players. This requires us to play with great focus.”In contrast, Shabab Al Ahli arrive in Doha in confident mood, having claimed three wins from five matches. Two more victories would see the Dubai club equal their best-ever run in continental competition, and with Al Sadd struggling for consistency, they will be confident of securing qualification.Shabab Al Ahli head coach Paulo Sousa praised his opponents while stressing the need for focus. “We will face a tough competitor and a team that has dominated Qatari football titles in recent years, with many good players,” said the Portuguese coach. “They are organised in all lines, and I am also happy to face Roberto Mancini, who is a capable coach with great experience.”Sousa added: “We want to continue delivering good performances and maintain our balanced progress in the standings. This match represents Al Sadd’s last chance to keep their qualification hopes alive, which means they will have a strong desire to win, and that requires us to remain fully focused.”

Roberto Mancini’s arrival at Al Sadd marks a major test not just for the celebrated Italian coach, but also for Qatar’s most decorated football club.For Mancini, who turns 61 at the end of this month, returning to the Gulf barely a year after a turbulent stint with Saudi Arabia represents both a lucrative opportunity and a reputational gamble. He will reportedly earn up to €21mn over two and a half years — a windfall that extends his run as one of world football’s best-paid managers.Al Sadd confirmed the appointment Thursday, announcing that Mancini had signed a two-and-a-half-season deal and sharing photos of him holding the club shirt. “Benvenuto Signor Mancini,” the club posted on social media, using the Italian word for “welcome,” without revealing financial details.Mancini began his managerial career in Italy with Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter Milan. His most successful spell came during his time with Inter, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs between 2004 and 2008.He later managed Manchester City from 2009 to 2013, leading them to FA Cup glory in 2011 and a maiden Premier League title the following season — the club’s first in 44 years. After a second-place finish in 2012–13, Mancini was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.Further spells followed at Galatasaray and Zenit Saint Petersburg, either side of a second stint at Inter, before he guided Italy to the Euro 2020 title. Yet since that triumph, Mancini’s reputation has waned. His high-profile tenure with Saudi Arabia — launched amid huge fanfare and a reported €30mn-a-year salary — ended after just 14 months following disappointing results in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Reports suggest he received around €65mn in compensation after his departure.Linked briefly with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October, Mancini now takes charge of an Al Sadd side that has struggled for consistency this season despite the marquee signing of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.The Qatari giants — who dismissed Felix Sanchez in October despite winning the league and cup double last term — currently sit sixth in the Qatar Stars League with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of leaders Al Gharafa. In the AFC Champions League Elite, they are 10th in their group and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout rounds.Mancini’s appointment is therefore as much about restoring Al Sadd’s domestic dominance as it is about salvaging his own managerial credibility. The club will expect an immediate turnaround, while Mancini will be eager to prove he can still deliver success outside Europe’s top leagues.A clause reportedly allowing him to leave in 2026 adds intrigue to what is already a bold gamble by both sides. The move also represents a significant coup for the Wolves, who previously rebuilt their project under their former player Xavi Hernandez before the Barcelona legend’s return to Spain. By bringing in Mancini, Al Sadd are once again banking on a high-profile leader to raise standards and reassert their supremacy in Qatar.“This contract comes as part of the club management’s efforts to strengthen the technical staff with distinguished coaching expertise capable of achieving the team’s ambitions and continuing its run of success,” Al Sadd said in a statement Thursday.Hours after signing the contract, Mancini immediately donned the Al Sadd training kit and took charge of his first practice session. His debut match at the helm will be on November 22 at home against Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League. With Al Sadd seeking to climb the table and rediscover their identity, all eyes will be on whether Mancini can spark the kind of revival that once made him one of Europe’s elite managers.

Al Sadd have appointed former Inter Milan and Italy boss Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-season deal, the Qatari club announced on Thursday. The 60-year-old Italian returns to management over a year after leaving his role with the Saudi Arabia national team. Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, who sit sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-toppers Al-Gharafa. **media[381176]** His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008. He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign. Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.