Roberto Mancini has called for more playing time for Saudi Arabian footballers in the domestic league, which has many top stars. “I have 20 players who sit on the bench when the local team plays,” said the Saudi Arabian national coach during the qualification for the upcoming World Cup in just under two years. “The players of the Saudi Arabian national team must be used as regular players for their clubs,” he demanded.
Mancini demanded better communication between the clubs and the national team. The Saudi Pro League has been attracting many top stars from Europe for several years. Superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, the Brazilian Neymar and the former Leverkusen player Moussa Diaby now play there. Mancini criticised the fact that most clubs use their quota of ten foreign players to the full. This means that the Saudi Arabian players are not used enough.
The 59-year-old Italian Mancini moved to the Arabian Peninsula in August 2023 amid massive criticism in his home country. In his career as a coach, he won the Italian championship title three times with Inter Milan, among others, and became European champion with Italy in 2021.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240909-930-227042/1
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