Asian Cup 2023: Roberto Mancini criticises Saudi Arabia trio for 'letting down country'

Saudi Arabia manager Roberto Mancini has not held back in his criticism of the national team players who left the squad ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup because of a potential lack of playing time.

The Saudi camp has been rocked by a number of changes in the build-up to Tuesday’s Group F opener against Oman. Midfielder, and long-time captain, Salman Al Faraj, goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi and full-back Sultan Al Ghannam have been released from the 26-man roster ahead of the country’s bid for a fourth continental crown – and first since 1996.

Speaking at a fascinating pre-match press conference in Doha on Monday, Mancini said: “All of these players didn’t want to come with the national team. They decide, not me. They were on the list.

“Salman, the first time in the camp, said he doesn't want to come to play in the friendly games. I don’t feel that one player can decide when or not they play.

“Second one is Sultan, and [then] Nawaf. I spoke with both before the list and asked them if they were happy to come to the national team. And Sultan told me that he was not happy, that, ‘I play or I don’t come’.

“There is not one player that can decide if they play or not; I decide this. And he decided not to come.

“Nawaf told me he'd come but the day after, in Riyadh, he said to us he didn't want to. We tried to speak with him, and we put him on the list.

“Three days ago, he went to our goalkeeper coach and said, 'I don't want to stay here if I don't play'. No one knows the first XI for tomorrow and I don’t know why he decided this.”

Mancini added: “I want only players who want to fight for their country. This is the reason. And now, finish [asking] about this; I don’t want to talk about Salman, about Sultan, about Nawaf. OK?”

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