Roberto Mancini, Sampdoria Contact Sparks Social Outburst and Leaves Lombardo in Interim Role

Roberto Mancini has pushed back forcefully on media accounts that he was being courted to replace Salvatore Foti as Sampdoria’s head coach, responding on social media with a terse rebuke. The club, which dismissed Foti and Angelo Gregucci, has for now handed first-team duties to Attilio Lombardo while weighing a series of potential successors.

Roberto Mancini Denies Reported Approach and Salary Claims

The former national team manager rejected a narrative that placed him among Sampdoria’s leading options, answering a post on social channels with the words “Ma quante s*******e dite. ” A sports portal had outlined a scenario in which Mancini was contacted as a candidate but was said to have requested roughly 2. 5 million euros per season to return to the club bench—an amount the club reportedly viewed as excessive compared with its current budgetary stance.

Lombardo Stays in Charge as Club Evaluates Alternatives

Following a heavy defeat at Frosinone and mounting pressure that led to the coaching exits, Sampdoria entrusted the team to Attilio Lombardo on an interim basis. The club is examining multiple profiles to fill the role longer term; if negotiations stall or the board remains divided, Lombardo could remain in the dugout for at least the next three league rounds while discussions continue.

Contractual and Financial Barriers to a Mancini Return

Any calculation about bringing Mancini back is complicated by his existing contract situation and the financial scale attached to it. He is under contract with Al Sadd through 2027 at an annual figure cited as about 5 million euros. Commentators in the context of the club’s search noted that a move would likely require a substantial reduction in his current compensation, with earlier coverage suggesting a negotiation figure of roughly two to 2. 5 million euros for a Sampdoria return.

Separately, the Qatari league’s current suspension and potential regulatory leeway were raised as practical considerations. One local account mentioned that international football authorities might permit temporary contract suspensions for coaches registered with Qatari clubs under extraordinary circumstances, which could affect availability. Those points remain possibilities rather than settled mechanisms for any immediate move.

Other Names on the Table and Financial Backing Questions

Club conversations have not been limited to one marquee option. The list of alternatives circulating includes several experienced Italian coaches, some of whom have been linked with Sampdoria in earlier windows. Observers also cited the potential for private financial assistance from a club sponsor with a personal relationship with Mancini as a factor that could influence negotiations, though that scenario would depend on willingness to contribute and on concrete offers.

For now, the confirmed developments are the managerial departures, Lombardo’s interim appointment, the media accounts of contact and salary discussions involving Roberto Mancini, and Mancini’s public denial of that depiction. The club faces an immediate match schedule and must decide whether to accelerate a permanent appointment or maintain the caretaker arrangement while resolving financial and contractual questions.