Saudi Arabian player Salman Al-Faraj recently took to social media to mock Italy's 2-0 loss to Belgium in a UEFA Nations League match. The game, which was played on September 26, 2026, marked Mancini's second stint as Italy's coach, and it ended in a disappointing defeat. Al-Faraj, who has a history with Mancini from his time as coach of the Saudi Arabian team, expressed his amusement at the loss.
Al-Faraj's comments on social media platform Snapchat were laced with sarcasm as he congratulated Belgium on their win. He implied that Mancini's coaching abilities were lacking, referencing a past incident where the two had a disagreement. This incident led to Al-Faraj being fined 100,000 Saudi riyals and sparked a very public feud between the two.
The history between Al-Faraj and Mancini dates back to 2024 when the Italian coach was at the helm of the Saudi Arabian national team. Mancini had dropped Al-Faraj from the team's lineup, citing that the player had expressed disinterest in participating in friendly matches. This decision led to Al-Faraj demanding an investigation into Mancini's actions and questioning his national identity.
Mancini's tenure as Saudi Arabia's coach was short-lived, lasting only 18 matches, with 7 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. He parted ways with the team, and Al-Faraj became a free agent after his contract with Saudi club Al-Neom ended. The 37-year-old player's recent comments have reignited the debate about his past disagreements with Mancini.
Italy's loss to Belgium has raised concerns about Mancini's ability to lead the team to success. The Italian team has struggled in recent years, and the latest defeat has added to the pressure on Mancini to deliver results. Al-Faraj's comments, while light-hearted, have struck a chord with fans and critics alike.
The incident has also sparked discussion about the dynamics between coaches and players. Al-Faraj's reaction to Italy's loss has been seen as a reflection of the tension between him and Mancini during their time together at the Saudi Arabian national team. It remains to be seen how this incident will affect Mancini's future as Italy's coach.
As the football world continues to react to Italy's loss and Al-Faraj's comments, fans are eagerly awaiting the team's next match to see how they will bounce back from this defeat. With the UEFA Nations League competition heating up, Italy will look to regroup and secure a win in their next match.
Key points
- Salman Al-Faraj mocks Italy's loss to Belgium under coach Roberto Mancini
- Al-Faraj has a history with Mancini from his time as coach of the Saudi Arabian team
- Italy's loss has raised concerns about Mancini's ability to lead the team to success
