Roberto Mancini has set his sights on transferring his European success to Asia as he takes charge of his first match as Saudi Arabia boss at St James’ Park on Friday.
The friendly against Costa Rica, followed by another against South Korea next week – both at the home of the Saudi-backed Newcastle United – begins a tilt at January’s AFC Asian Cup for the newly appointed Italian, who won Euro 2020 with his native country.
“I think the whole world recognises the quality of Saudi players after they shocked everyone by beating Argentina [in the group stage at last year’s World Cup],” Mancini, who quit as Italy boss three weeks ago, told the Post.
“But after speaking to the Saudi Arabia Football Federation and understanding the impressive work they’ve been doing across all levels of the game, that win doesn’t surprise me as much.
“There is a lot happening behind the scenes not many people would know about.”
The country hopes to be an established top-20 Fifa nation by 2034, starting with continental supremacy. Saudi won last year’s U-23 Asian Cup and the profile of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) has rocketed following an audacious raid on European clubs.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s money-spinning move to Al Nassr in January, Saudi clubs – several of them state-backed – have lured the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Jordan Henderson with contracts reportedly worth far more than each earned in France, Spain or England.
Henderson this week answered criticism of those making the move in an interview with The Athletic, denying that accepting the offer betrayed his reputation as a champion of LGBTQ rights, given the kingdom’s laws and human rights record.
Mancini merely describes his role as “a new challenge in a new region”.
Asian Champions League draw reveals where Neymar, Ronaldo and Benzema will play
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“The world is a big place and there are lots of exciting national teams with huge ambitions,” the former Inter Milan and Manchester City manager said.
That new challenge includes World Cup qualification from November and, two months later, the Asian Cup, where Saudi Arabia will eye a first success since 1996. They have not gone beyond the last 16 since 2007, while Mancini’s charges have also lost six of their seven fixtures since stunning Argentina.
The foreign influx could limit playing opportunities for some of his squad – of the four goalkeepers selected for the Newcastle matches, only one is gaining regular action.
“My coaching staff and I are travelling across the country to follow SPL matches closely, and have been impressed by what we’ve seen, particularly from many young players,” Mancini said.
“Many of our current squad members were U-23 Asian Cup champions, so this proves we are strong. The work for the Asian Cup has already started.”
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