Cesare Prandelli watched Italy’s first full international break under Roberto Mancini close with a 3-1 home win over Turkey in Bologna on Monday night, and his verdict is that the direction of travel is now fixed.

“The revolution has begun, there’s no going back,” Prandelli told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We’re no longer the benchmark and we have to recognise that.”

Mancini returned for a second spell in charge in late July 2026, replacing Gattuso after Italy’s playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina sealed a third consecutive World Cup absence. The Azzurri opened their Group A1 campaign with a 2-0 home loss to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September, before winning 4-1 away in Turkey, drawing 1-1 against France in Paris, and beating Turkey 3-1 in Bologna to climb to second in the group.

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Bastoni’s turnaround under the new coach

The transformation that interests Prandelli most is Bastoni’s. The Inter defender was sent off during Gattuso’s tenure; this window he scored after nine minutes in Bursa and then added an equaliser against France in Paris, 13 minutes after Michael Olise had opened the scoring at the Stade de France.

Prandelli used that contrast to argue his predecessor had been judged too harshly.

“Gattuso couldn’t do it because he was in a state of emergency, he had to qualify and didn’t have the time to invest in them,” Prandelli said.

“Let’s be honest, Rino was a bit unlucky as well. Bastoni was sent off under him but scored twice this time around.”

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Kayode debut leads a new look

Prandelli reserved particular praise for Michael Kayode, the Brentford right-back who scored on his senior Italy debut in the 4-1 win over Turkey. The 22-year-old had turned down an approach from Nigeria before committing to the Azzurri.

“He has power, strength, calmness, speed, one-on-one ability, great personality,” Prandelli said. “He goes on the attack and shoots.”

The former Italy coach, who ran the national team from 2010 to 2014, framed the squad overhaul as a return to first principles rather than a short-term fix.

The half-time Prandelli wants to hear about

One moment from the window still intrigues him: whatever Mancini said to his players in the dressing room after a goalless, deeply unconvincing opening 45 minutes against Belgium in Rome.

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“One day, I’d like to ask Roberto what he said to the players at half-time of the Belgium game after a disastrous, unwatchable first half,” Prandelli said.

Italy sit second in Group A1 after four matchdays, with the final two fixtures of the league phase to come in November.

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