Roberto Mancini’s reputation is moving back up again after winning Euro 2020 with Italy, and David Platt can’t believe Everton or Tottenham didn’t want him.
Mancini memorably won the Premier League title with Manchester City back in 2012, with Sergio Aguero conjuring up one of the greatest moments in football to secure a late title win.
It hasn’t always been easy for Mancini since that success.
He lost his City job just a year later, lasted less than a year with Galatasaray, couldn’t bring silverware to Inter Milan and then headed off to Russia for a Zenit St Petersburg stint that many would forget.
In 2018, Mancini decided to leave Zenit and become Italy boss, seeking to rejuvenate the Azzurri after failing to even qualify for the 2018 World Cup under Gian Piero Ventura.
Mancini has worked wonders with Italy, and brought them great success this summer by winning Euro 2020, beating England on penalties in the final.
Before the tournament even started, Mancini signed a lengthy contract extension until 2016; Italy’s faith in him has been more than repaid.
There has been some surprise that Premier League clubs didn’t really push for Mancini though, with his former Manchester City pal David Platt stunned.
Platt has now told The Old Spice Boys podcast that it’s ‘incredible’ that Tottenham Hotspur and Everton didn’t go for Mancini, believing he would have been ideal for those jobs this summer.
Tottenham ended up going for Nuno Espirito Santo whilst Everton appointed Rafael Benitez.
Maybe Mancini’s contract was a big reason for the lack of interest, but that hasn’t stopped Platt from sharing his bemusement.
“It never surprised me that Robbie created a winning team with Italy because that’s what he has done all through his career,” said Platt. “But I am absolutely amazed that he has not been linked with clubs over the last five or six years in England when you look at his CV and what he has done.”
“The job at Spurs was going and there was Everton as well, who manager to persuade another Italian, Carlo Ancelotti, to go there before Rafa Benitez arrived. I find it incredible that he has not been linked with jobs like these,” he added.
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