LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool controls the ball whilst under pressure from Leo Scienza of Southampton during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (Mancini article)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool controls the ball whilst under pressure from Leo Scienza of Southampton during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Roberto Mancini admits that the Italy national team does not have a world-leading group of defenders as it has done in the past, but has pointed to an exciting crop of emerging talents who he thinks will become ‘great defenders’ including Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni.
What Mancini said about Liverpool’s Leoni and Italy’s future generation of defenders
Mancini discussed his options and the challenges he expects to come up against in an interview with Rai ahead of Italy’s Nations League test against France on Thursday evening.
BOLOGNA - OCTOBER 05: Roberto Mancini, Manager of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA – OCTOBER 05: Roberto Mancini, Manager of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
This will be the second time in just over a month that Italy and France have faced off against each other: They ended level at 1-1 after their meeting in Paris at the beginning of October.
Ahead of kick-off, Mancini spoke to Rai to explain the thought process behind the squad selections that he has made, the players that have impressed him and those who he feels could still improve.
He also spoke about an exciting crop of young defenders coming through the ranks. The CT believes that, even if Italy do not have a Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi or Fabio Cannavaro in their ranks at the moment, that there are plenty of strong, young defenders coming through the system.
UDINE, ITALY - AUGUST 22: Matteo Palma of Udinese heads the ball during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on August 22, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
UDINE, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Matteo Palma of Udinese heads the ball during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on August 22, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
He pointed to Leoni, still recovering after picking up a serious knee injury on his Liverpool debut over a year ago, as well as Crystal Palace’s Honest Ahanor and Parma’s Matteo Palma, who were called up for the November break but have not made the cut for the matchday squad against France.
“Italy have had some of the greatest defenders in history, so it’s quite difficult to reach those levels. But, I think we have good defenders and we have to work with them,” said Mancini.
“Behind Bastoni and Scalvini, who are still young but have been playing for some time, there are three or four other good options. Palma will be a great defender for me, as will Leoni, as will Ahanor.”