Nicolo Zaniolo has apologised for Italy s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar as he pledged to become a key part of Roberto Mancini s next Azzurri side.
Italy will miss a second successive World Cup this year after falling to a stunning play-off reverse to North Macedonia in March, and their misery was compounded this month when they were beaten 3-0 by Argentina at Wembley in the Finalissima.
They also won just one of their first four Nations League games, losing 5-2 to Germany last time out.
Zaniolo was absent as Mancini s men beat England on penalties to win the rearranged Euro 2020 tournament last July, and made just one appearance throughout Italy s unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign.
The creative midfielder is desperate to become a key part of Mancini s next side, and hailed the job the former Manchester City boss has done with the national team.
I m sorry, because we have to wait another four years, he told Sportweek. But let s go on. I m used to chasing. There will be other goals in between.
The first time Mancini called me I was very young He came there to talk to me, to make me feel immediately at ease. Great person, professional. I will do everything to convince Mancini.
Full time.
— Italy (@Azzurri_En)
Moving forward, Italy will be without defensive stalwart Giorgio Chiellini, who won his 117th and final international cap in the Argentina defeat – matching Daniele De Rossi as his nations fourth-most capped player.
And Zaniolo thinks the former Juventus man will be difficult to replace.
[Chiellini] has always been the most difficult to overcome, he said. He is physically strong and off the pitch, he is an exceptional person.
At club level, Zaniolo enjoyed a successful campaign under Jose Mourinho at Roma, making 30 appearances in all competitions as the Giallorossi won the Europa Conference League, and scored the only goal of last month s final win over Feyenoord.
The 22-year-old says he has learnt a lot from playing under Mourinho.
He s a winner, he said. He taught me how to get into position in the defensive phase, where we had to improve and I still have to do it.
He helped me to manage certain situations, in the past I would have reacted badly or worse due to exclusion from games that were very significant for me.
He taught me to bite my tongue, [to be] mute and work more in the field.
