Gianluigi Donnarumma backs Roberto Mancini to lead Italy revival after World Cup heartbreak

Gianluigi Donnarumma believes Roberto Mancini can lead Italy back to where they belong after the disappointment of missing another World Cup.

The Manchester City goalkeeper and Italy captain spoke to Sky Sport Insider ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, with the Azzurri preparing for UEFA Nations League matches against Belgium, Turkey twice and France.

Italy spent the summer watching the World Cup from home after failing to qualify for the tournament for a third consecutive edition.

For Donnarumma, the disappointment remains painful, but his message ahead of the international break is centred on rebuilding confidence and unity.

“We’ll get back to doing well, qualifying for the European Championship and then the World Cup,” Donnarumma said. “With Mancini, we’ll get back to where Italy deserves to be.”

Missing another World Cup has inevitably affected the atmosphere surrounding the national team.

Donnarumma knows the players will return to an environment carrying frustration following another major qualification failure.

“It wasn’t an easy summer; it was very tough,” the goalkeeper explained.

“Now we have to turn the page. We have to become optimistic and positive again and rebuild a great group. Only we can do that among ourselves.”

The 27-year-old believes Italy’s response must come collectively.

Watching the World Cup without participating was particularly difficult for the squad, but Donnarumma insists there is little value in continuing to dwell on what happened.

“Together, we have to rewrite our history,” he added. “Watching the World Cup without us was very tough for all the lads. But we have to lift our heads; there’s no alternative.”

Donnarumma can also draw motivation from considerably happier memories with Italy.

The final of Euro 2028 will be staged at Wembley, the same stadium where Mancini's Italy defeated England to win Euro 2020 in 2021.

Donnarumma remembers that night as one of the greatest moments of his life.

“It was one of the most beautiful things in my life, perhaps the most beautiful of all together with the birth of my son,” he said.

One particular image remains especially important to him: Mancini embracing the late Gianluca Vialli following Italy's victory.

“The image I want to remember forever is the embrace between Mancini and Gianluca Vialli after the final victory,” Donnarumma explained. “It shows how much Gianluca gave to all of us and to our group.”

Those memories provide a reminder of what Mancini and this Italy setup have previously achieved together.

Donnarumma also discussed his club situation following Manchester City's derby victory over Manchester United.

The goalkeeper is in his second season at City and has become an important figure under Enzo Maresca.

Maresca has included Donnarumma among City's captains, something the Italian international considers a significant honour.

“Maresca has great confidence in me,” Donnarumma said. “He chose me as one of the team captains, and for me it’s an enormous source of pride to represent this shirt with that responsibility.”

Donnarumma also highlighted Maresca's attention to detail and the environment the manager has established at Manchester City.

“He pays great attention to detail, he helps you a lot and he has created a wonderful environment.”

After celebrating an emotional Manchester derby victory, Donnarumma's attention now switches back to Italy.

The objective is clear: rebuild the national team's confidence under Mancini and begin ensuring that watching another major tournament from home does not happen again.

Donnarumma will now switch his attention from Manchester City to international duty as Italy begin an important new period under Mancini.

The upcoming Nations League fixtures provide an immediate opportunity for the Azzurri to respond to their World Cup disappointment and start rebuilding momentum towards future European Championship and World Cup qualification.