Mancini says Italy can drop Barella, Nations League is priority

Bursa, a few hours before the match against Turkey, the head coach of the Azzurri, Roberto Mancini, said that it is easy to leave out Nicolò Barella to give space to the youngsters, and that the UEFA Nations League is the most important thing in the world.

Mancini's words

In his appearance on Rai Sport, Mancini added: “At this moment I don’t feel that time is my enemy” and recalled that the team had only two training sessions, one of which was a recovery session, after the defeat against Belgium. He emphasized that, despite the loss, the second half against Belgium was positive, quoting De Ketelaere’s words.

Priority to the Nations League

The coach went on to state that the Nations League is now the most important competition, because Italy wants to reach the final stage. He acknowledged the difficulty of the group, but highlighted that there are five matches left to assess one by one.

According to Mancini, it was not difficult to give up Barella, as his quality is well known, but the matches are meant to test the youngsters who will have to lead the way in the coming years.

Goal against Turkey

Looking ahead to the next match, Mancini said he wants to see a good and positive attitude from the first minute, and that a win is the ultimate goal. He recalled that Turkey is led by Vincenzo Montella, who delivered a good performance at the World Cup, despite the first two defeats.

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The coach also reiterated that the match is not a relegation‑playoff, but an opportunity to showcase their football, even though “if you don’t score, it’s hard to win”.

Change at the helm of Parma

In the meantime, Parma announced that Carlos Cuesta is no longer the head coach of the men’s first team, following an internal review that highlighted the lack of grounds to continue the sporting project.

The club thanked Cuesta and his staff, while the next training session will be overseen by the technical staff pending a new coach, with Alberto Gilardino mentioned as a possible candidate.

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Separately, rumors about the Kosovar defender Amir Rrahmani suggest that Napoli could extend his contract until 2029, although the deal has not yet been confirmed.

In summary, Italy is aiming for a decisive Nations League, relying on young talents and a calm strategy, while the Italian scene also sees changes in leadership and possible contract renewals.