Mancini: ‘Jorginho deserves the Ballon d’Or, Donnarumma…’

Italy CT Roberto Mancini insists Jorginho deserves the Ballon d’Or and explains why Gianluigi Donnarumma is not a regular starter for PSG.

The Azzurri have returned to Coverciano for the World Cup qualifiers. The European champions will face Bulgaria, Switzerland and Lithuania during the upcoming international break with Mancini, who included a few new faces in the team, including Moise Kean and Nicolò Zaniolo.

“I would like us to pick up where we left off, with our way of playing and with our conviction,” Mancini said at a press conference.

“I think our victory has changed the way we are perceived abroad because we showed a new mentality during the Euros and we made 60 million people happy, we are proud of it,” the coach continued.

“There are five World Cup qualifying games left and 14 months before the World Cup kicks off. Some teams have begun the season before us, so we must be focused.”

“Kean is a young player with great qualities, he didn’t join us for the Euros and I was sorry for it, but he knew he would return.

“Some players are back from injuries, it’s important for Zaniolo to feel well and his role won’t be a problem,” Mancini ensured.

“There isn’t a pecking order among the 26 players of the Euros, those who are more fit will play. Those who are here deserve so.

“We are considering [Davide] Calabria, while [Andrea] Belotti is not feeling too well, there are many other players who would deserve to be here.”

Jorginho has become champion of Europe with both Chelsea and Italy and he is among the candidates to win the Ballon d’Or.

He was named best Champions League player for the 2020-21 campaign and Mancini has no doubts that the Chelsea playmaker should be named the best player in the world for 2021.

“I would give him the Ballon d’Or, he deserves it because he won everything this season,” Mancini claimed.

Gigio Donnarumma was Italy’s hero at the Euros and was even named Player of the Tournament, but hasn’t yet played an official game in a PSG shirt.

Mancini believes there is an obvious reason behind it.

“It’s only because he started the season later, that’s the only reason,” the Azzurri CT said.