Roberto Mancini has agreed to open talks over becoming Italy's new national team coach, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed.
Mancini will lead Zenit to the end of the Russian Premier League season before starting negotiations over the role, FIGC head Roberto Fabbricini said on Tuesday.
"Yesterday [Monday] FIGC's extraordinary vice-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta and Italy team manager Gabriele Oriali met Roberto Mancini, who gave his availability to terminate his contract with Zenit and to take the Italy coach role," Fabbricini said to ANSA.
"We're agree to start talking about figures and details on May 13, with the end of Russian championship.
"I want to say that there is nothing decided. With Mancini we will clarify that the FIGC has a budget for the role which it does not intend to deviate from, and we'll also need to talk with him about the Azzurri coaches which we would like to make sure remain with the future coach."
Zenit sit fifth in the Russian Premier League table and are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification with two matches remaining, while Mancini's men lost to RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Europa League.
"You never know in life, I think that coaching Italy one day would be an extraordinary thing," the 53-year-old told Sky Italia in March.
