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Luciano Spalletti is set to become the new coach of the Italian national football team, according to multiple reports in the Italian media. The former Napoli boss has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) until September 2026 and will replace Roberto Mancini, who left the job.
Spalletti, 64, has been the FIGC's top choice for the role and has been in talks with federation president Gabriele Gravina for several days. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Spalletti and Gravina are expected to meet on Friday to finalize the deal, and an official announcement could be made on Saturday, August 19.
Spalletti has a wealth of experience and success in club football, having coached teams like Roma, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Napoli. He won two Cup titles with Roma and also led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years. Spalletti will have a tough task ahead of him, as he will have to rebuild the national team that has been struggling in recent years. Italy, who won the European Championship in 2021, failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups in 2018 and 2022.
Spalletti's appointment could also face some legal complications, as his contract with Napoli, which runs until June 2024, includes a clause that requires him to pay compensation of 3 million euros ($3.3 million) if he takes up a new position. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said that he will not waive the payment, which decreases by 250,000 euros each month. The FIGC is looking at legal options to resolve the issue.
