Carnevali criticises Malagò over Mancini choice: 'Bring in capable people, not friends'
Quick summary
Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali publicly criticizes CONI president Giovanni Malagò over the appointment of Roberto Mancini, calling for merit-based selections in Italian football governance.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceGiovanni Carnevali has criticised Giovanni Malagò’s decision to appoint Roberto Mancini as Italy manager, arguing the FIGC president should have prioritised ability over relationships.
According to CalcioMercato.com , the Juventus chief executive used an appearance at a La Stampa event to question the direction taken by Italian football’s governing body.
“Despite being a great figure in sport, in my view the new FIGC president could have moved better,” Carnevali said. “We had asked him to build a federation like a football club, with a technical director and a sporting director. We need to start again from the foundations, from young players and educators, with a sporting project.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Giovanni Carnevali CEO of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Carnevali: ‘Bring in capable people, not friends’ The former Sassuolo executive was pointed about the process, revealing that Serie A had offered to help fund a higher-profile appointment, understood to be a reference to Antonio Conte.
“As Serie A, we had proposed making an investment to find coaches of quality,” he said. “You shouldn’t bring in friends, but capable people.”
Carnevali also expressed sympathy for Andrea Pirlo , the early frontrunner before he was dropped.
“I also feel sorry for Andrea Pirlo, who was attacked very strongly for choices that were perhaps mistaken,” he said. “But it would have been better to think about it beforehand.”
The CEO then widened his criticism to world football’s governing body, aligning himself with the European federations at odds with FIFA.
“There are 55 federations opposed to what FIFA is pursuing,” he said. “What Infantino is doing is there for all to see, a different direction from a few years ago. I like things done cleanly, and FIFA isn’t upholding the values I believe in. The fact that 55 federations disagree is already an important step; there will be a chance to stop them.”
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What happened
Giovanni Carnevali, CEO of Serie A club Sassuolo, has publicly criticized CONI president Giovanni Malagò regarding the decision to appoint Roberto Mancini. Carnevali's comments suggest that political and personal connections, rather than competence, have driven key appointments in Italian football leadership. The remarks highlight ongoing tensions within Italian football governance and the broader debate about how the national team and FIGC positions are filled. The criticism reflects frustration among club executives about the influence of sports politics on technical decisions.
Chance analysis
This is a governance and political story within Italian football rather than a tactical or competitive one. Carnevali's public rebuke of Malagò signals internal friction between club leadership and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) over how key coaching and federation decisions are made. For prediction systems, this has no direct match-day impact but reflects the volatile political environment surrounding the Italy national team setup, which could influence future coaching changes, federation stability, and the broader strategic direction of Italian football.
No immediate effect on team performance, but highlights potential instability in Italian football governance that could affect future national team appointments.
No direct impact on upcoming match predictions; this is a governance controversy that may foreshadow future Italian football federation instability.