Roma center-back Gianluca Mancini told Sky Sport Italia that he has not been following the current FIFA World Cup and expressed his anticipation for playing in the Champions League with Roma next season.
Mancini explained that he has not been watching the World Cup matches. "As a player who couldn't qualify for the FIFA World Cup, it's painful, really tough. I haven't watched the games—I can't. I'll watch highlights, but not the full matches; not being there is hard to bear. If we fail to qualify three times, it's not just a problem for young players, youth development, and coaches, but a much bigger issue that I hope will be resolved in the coming years."
He then discussed Roma and the Champions League: "After the match in Verona, when I hugged Cristante, these thoughts came to me. I imagined the stadium, I imagined that Champions League anthem that I've never heard in my career. Just thinking about it is wonderful—I can't wait to play in this competition. I'm very happy and enjoying these final days of vacation, after which we'll focus on training camp and preparing in the best way possible for an important season and higher objectives."