Italian football federation (Figc) chief Gabriele Gravina resigned on Thursday, after the national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.

The Italian Football Federation and Luciano Spalletti have reached an agreement for him to succeed Roberto Mancini as coach of the national team, according to reports in the Italian press on Friday.

Roberto Mancini insists that a potential move to the Saudi Arabia national team is not the reason for his sudden and highly criticised decision to quit Italy.