Mancini’s former teammate reveals: ‘He was unbearable at first, I locked him in a room’

Italy coach Roberto Mancini was “unbearable” when they first played together, according to Michele Serena…

Football italia

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 11:35 AM

Key Things to Know

Michele Serena revealed he once locked Roberto Mancini in a room to resolve early personal tensions at Sampdoria.
Serena noted that Sampdoria president Paolo Mantovani sided with him and fined Mancini following their initial argument.
The former defender recalled practicing against Sinisa Mihajlovic's free kicks after training sessions.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Italian defender Michele Serena recalled that Roberto Mancini was "unbearable" early in their time together at Sampdoria. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Serena explained that an argument prompted him to lock Mancini in a room after training to resolve their issues, leading to a lasting friendship.

Serena also reflected on other notable career moments, including facing Sinisa Mihajlovic's free kicks and playing alongside Gabriel Batistuta at Fiorentina. He voiced lingering disappointment over Inter's missed Serie A title on May 5, 2002, following a defeat to Lazio under manager Hector Cuper.

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Mancini’s former teammate reveals: ‘He was unbearable at first, I locked him in a room’

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