Mancini: 'Zaniolo is the future of Italy, Kean must play more. Ronaldo...'
ON RACISM AND VIOLENCE - "2018 ended in the worst way, we thought that the era of violence inside and outside the stadiums was over, instead, we had another death, this time in Milan. It is becoming dramatic, you cannot die to go to see a football match. The moment has come for the intervention of the institutions: someone must make important decisions, drastic, even unpopular to end this series of unbearable deaths. Years ago, this happened in England, where the situation was also dramatic. Today, the fans see the games in contact with the players, there are no obstacles between them and the field. In Italy, you cannot go inside a stadium peacefully, without risking your safety. Then, what about racism? Even in the national teams, we have players with black skin. The world has changed and too many people have not been correctly educated: parents need to be parents and start educating their children. This is the starting point, then we need to take - as I said - unpopular positions. The racist “buuuu” does not make sense. There is not a team without a black player. Why, then, insult those of the opposing team? Let’s stop, as Ancelotti says if the institutions are not able to solve this shameful problem".
FIRST RESULTS - "I'm happy, I think I've built a nice group, a special and amusing national team. I'm working on thinking about the future: I look at young players, I study them, I prepare them and I put them on the pitch. I think the last few matches have recreated a nice harmony between the team and the people after an unbearable disappointment, after the World Cup without Italy".
ON ZANIOLO - "I had followed him in the Under 19, like Tonali, and I realized that he had uncommon qualities for such a young boy, despite he was not a professional player yet. With respect to others, he had more physical and more quality. I think that the facts have proved I was right. Zaniolo is the talent of the future".
ON KEAN - "He's another guy ready to explode, obviously he has no space in Juventus. If he's going to play in another team, we'll see an awesome striker. If Kean looks like Balotelli? Do not underestimate that Balotelli, at 17 years, had already scored decisive goals with Inter. At 19-20 he had a hundred Serie A appearances. Hardly Kean can now do this experience, but I believe so much in him".
ON BALOTELLI - "I have done my best, I always hope something will happen. He will return to the National team only if he deserves it, like at Inter and at Manchester. He is 28 if he wants there is time, the European Cup and the World Cup should be fatal attractions for him".
ON TONALI AND BARELLA - "Tonali will end the season in Serie B, then he is destined to show his quality, he is a midfielder like Pirlo. As Zaniolo, he has something more than the others, but he will need time to grow. Barella? He possesses an extraordinary personality".
DONNARUMMA AS BUFFON - "Calm, Buffon remains a unique goalkeeper in the history of football, as Zoff. With me, Gigio did not make a single mistake. I also keep in mind Perin, who was penalized by an important choice: going to Juventus, where he was not sure to play, but he is very good ".
ABOUT IMMOBILE - "I don’t like him? It's not true, Ciro has played a lot with me too, also very good against Portugal but the national team is not like a club: there are eight or nine games a year. Occasions must not be wasted. According to the numbers, he is the best Italian striker, there is no doubt. However, Italy does not participate in a Subbuteo tournament but at very high levels championships, in which collective values are raised.
ON CR7 - "He makes the difference, on and off the pitch. He is totally dedicated to his work, he also makes the others grow. You look at the goals, I look at the substance: CR7 is from another planet".