Mancini apologises for abandoning Italy as he returns to helm Azzurri

Roberto Mancini issued an apology in his first public comments Wednesday after being rehired to coach an Italy squad in crisis three years after he abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia, the Associated Press and the Guardian reported.

"I am very sorry about the way my relationship with the Italian federation ended," Mancini said, according to the Guardian's Rome correspondent. "Some will be against my return, and I understand. Maybe people will forgive me."

The apology comes after a chaotic 16-day period in Italian football that saw Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resign from the federation's technical structure during the search for a new head coach, the BBC reported.