Giovanni Malago struck an optimistic note after Italy’s 4-1 victory over Turkiye in Bursa, and confirmed Roma’s new stadium will feature in Italy’s Euro 2032 submission to UEFA.
Speaking to ANSA, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the FIGC president was particularly taken by the conditions his young side overcame.
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“Winning in such a complicated climatic setting, with the whole stadium pushing and with 20-year-old lads, leads me to say that this is only the first step but you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “It was a beautiful evening from many points of view. I’d never experienced an atmosphere like that at a national team match, with support from every section of the stadium, but the lads were excellent. The performance of the various debutants has to be highlighted, a hope we have to cling to.”
BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
Malago: ‘Mancini and Ranieri are doing their part’
Malago was also complimentary about the coaching setup, the day after the win over Turkiye.
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“There’s a lot of work to do. The mood inside the squad is very good and Mancini is doing his part, as is Ranieri. We’re happy, now we go on even if the calendar isn’t simple, it’s crazy. France won’t be easy but you have to accept it.”
Separately, after the CONI meeting, Malago addressed the Roma stadium project following Monday’s approval from the Conferenza dei Servizi.
“There’s little politics in the dossier. There are parameters UEFA sent us and you have to cross-reference them with the technical offices. The stadiums aren’t ready, except one, but you have to guarantee certain things will be there. The closure of the Conferenza dei Servizi is the requirement that closes all these parameters, so Roma’s stadium will certainly be in the dossier. What happens then, we’ll see.”
Project for Roma’s new stadium via asroma.com
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Malago also paid tribute to two former Roma presidents who pursued the project without success.
“You can imagine how happy I am, and I think of Dino Viola, of Franco Sensi, and of those who succeeded them, because it’s an achievement not only for the city, not only for the team, but for the whole movement. Today is 29 September and in the next 36 hours, before leaving for Paris, I have to close the stadium dossier for Euro 2032.”
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