Former Premier League footballer Darren Bent has talked up Roberto Mancini's credentials to become the next Manchester United manager.
The Euro 2020-winner is currently the Italy head coach but the Azzurri saw their World Cup hopes come crashing down when North Macedonia stunned Jorginho and company with a stoppage-time winner in the playoff semi-final. It means Italy miss out on consecutive World Cups for the first time in their history.
Multiple reports have now suggested that their manager — previously triumphant in the Premier League with Manchester City — will step down from his role with the national team. And despite Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino leading the running for the soon-to-be-vacant managerial position at Old Trafford, Mancini has been touted as a possible candidate by Bent.
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"He has proved he can do it in this country and I think it is vital that he has that Premier League experience," he told talkSPORT. "He has gone on to win a massive trophy with Italy in the Euros, so you can’t question his pedigree in terms of winning things.
"If you’re looking for a winner, I suppose the counterargument is that people will say Jose [Mourinho] was a winner and it ended quite badly. He did win trophies for United, but people would say he left the club in a worst state.
"It would be a big deal, him obviously winning Manchester City their first Premier League title, to then go to United. But we have seen managers do this before."
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