The Saudi FA issued a statement: “The Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Federation and the coach of the national team, Roberto Mancini, reached a joint agreement today, which includes the end of the contractual relationship.”

Mancini leaves Saudi Arabia in third place in Group 3 of Asia’s World Cup qualification. As of today, they would not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as their group includes Japan and Australia. Japan has run away with the group, amassing 10 points, while the Saudis and Aussies are tied for second and third (due to goal differential) with 5 points. Due to the termination of the contract, Mancini is reported to be earning a lucrative payout package.

How Much Will Roberto Mancini Earn for Leaving Saudi Arabia?

According to the Mirror in England, the former Manchester City manager could net as much as $84 million due to the mutual termination. Reports from Italy suggest that Mancini’s relationships with the players became tense near the end of his tenure.

Despite heavy investments in their domestic league and the hiring of high-profile managers for their national team, Saudi Arabia continues to struggle to cement a foothold in the Asian confederation, remaining a third-tier team at the World Cup level.

Following their stunning upset of Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, little success followed; Saudi Arabia was eliminated in the first round of the tournament and made it only to the round of 16 in the 2023 Asian Cup.

Hervé Renard was the longest-serving manager in recent history, from 2019 to 2023, followed by Laurent Bonadéi, Saad Al-Shehri, and Roberto Mancini, all of whom coached the team for less than two years.

It appears very likely that Mancini will step down from the Italy nationalteam, but the former Serie A giants Inter and Premier League side Manchester City man is still asought-after name.

According to Italian media,Paris Saint-Germainand Manchester United are interested in the Italian’s services asboth sides have beendissatisfied with the management of the clubs by Mauricio Pochettino andRalf Rangnick.

PSG wantRoberto Mancini ahead of next season

Meanwhile, it is Italian publicationSportitaliawho have suggested that the 57-year-old is expected tosit onPSG’s bench afterthe end of the season. Contacts between the two parties have already been initiated, as the issuewith Mancini’s possible move to Manchester United is the reaction of Manchester City fans.

An interesting fact is that in 2013, the Italian manager was the one who led the Citizens to their first domestictitle since the 1976-77 season.

The Italian newspapers classified missing out on the World Cup as a “disaster” and “embarrassing”. For Roberto Mancini it was a bitter pill to swallow as the manager stated it was “the most disappointing moment of his career.”

Still the Italian FA want Roberto Mancini to continue in his post despite the embarrassing elimination, but it remains to be seen if Mancini will stay.

What will be the future of Roberto Mancini?

Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina is hoping Mancini can lead Italy ina post Qatar process, “I hope Mancini will immediately dispose of the bitterness we all have and continue, because he has a commitment with us,” Gravina said.

“When you are part of the world of sport you need to accept these verdicts… The joy of the European Championship remains but now this unexpected bitterness has arrived, perhaps an undeserved result but this is football. There is a project, and we will react. We must go ahead with our heads held high, protect our affection for our national team. Some mistakes have been made and we need to understand their nature” Gravina finished.

Mancini himself has been silent about what comes next as he described talks of his future as premature given missing out on the World Cup was “too great” to even consider future talks.

Up next for Italy is a meaningless match against Argentina in June that will pit the European champions against the Copa America winners.