The Italy National Team has rediscovered its credibility and sense of enthusiasm thanks to recent results and the arrival of Roberto Mancini, who has brought new energy to the team. He has brought young players through and reignited the side’s energy, but now is the time to look forward. Mancini would like to see Serie A finish earlier, before the currently scheduled date of 24 May. "The guys would arrive at the European Championship really tired while I’m thinking of giving them a week off before bringing them into the training camp so that they can recover physically by having a week of full rest. Two days after the end of the season aren’t enough. We’ll see if we can discuss it with the Lega. For me, that week of rest would have been vital. Perhaps, the ideal solution would be an extra midweek round or an earlier start to the season."

Mancini is looking to the future, not just for his side but the Under-21 National Team too. Therefore, Zaniolo and Kean will remain available for selection to Luigi Di Biagio, as the Azzurri Coach confirmed last night at an event in Cologno Monzese to present the renewal of the partnership with Radio Italia. "I think that Kean is 99 per cent likely to play with Italy and then the Under-21 side. He can be the starting forward for Juventus and Italy, where he is already. Will Zaniolo also go to the European Championship? We’ll have our games in June and then four or five players can go with Di Biagio to look to give them a hand to win."

Di Biagio underlined that he’s in constant contact with Mancini before adding: "On paper, I can take anyone to the European Championship, including Donnarumma. In the last list of call-ups for the senior team, there were eight players who were eligible for the Under-21s, but it’s too early to say who will go and who won’t now. There are commitments for the senior team and some have serious chances of starting. I don’t think that there will be issues considering Mancini’s ability to understand our issues. We hear from each other every day, we’ll evaluate the situation soon and decide who will be part of the 23-man squad."