According to journalist Mateo Moretto, Mancini has been open to a return for several weeks. Fabrizio Romano reports he is now waiting only for the formal green light from the federation to begin a second spell in charge.
The 61-year-old brings unmistakable credentials. He guided Italy to the UEFA Euro 2020 title — one of the most celebrated achievements in the federation's modern history — before his departure to take the Saudi Arabia national team job in 2023.
That decision proved deeply unpopular in Italy. It was viewed as prioritising financial reward over a project that was still unfinished, and it left a bitterness that has never fully dissolved. Mancini's subsequent spell at Al-Sadd in Qatar, where he won the domestic title this season, did little to rehabilitate the narrative.
Italy's situation is now desperate. The Azzurri have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third time in succession — a humiliation without precedent for a nation with four World Cup titles. Gennaro Gattuso has departed as head coach and the federation is under pressure to appoint someone capable of delivering genuine structural change.
Antonio Conte, having just left Napoli, remains in contention, but Mancini is currently considered the clear favourite. Nicolò Schira reports a deal structure of a contract until 2030 at €2 million per season, pointing to a long-term rebuilding mandate rather than a short-term fix.
The task ahead is formidable. UEFA Euro 2028 is the immediate target. The 2030 World Cup is the broader horizon.
Whether Mancini can win back the Italian public is a separate question entirely.