ROBERTO MANCINI is set to KEEP his job as Italy manager despite overseeing his nation's shameful World Cup KO last week, according to reports.

The Euro 2020 champions lost their play-offs semi-final clash against North Macedonia in one of the biggest surprises in football history.

Italy will miss their second straight World Cup having last featured at top table of international football in 2014.

Now preparing for a friendly against Turkey still in a state of shock, under-fire Mancini is set to keep his job, say Gazzetta dello Sport.

The front page of the Italian publication reads, "Mancini stays and changes", with the boss set to axe SIX big-name stars following their World Cup heartbreak.

Ahead of their Turkey friendly – what Gazzetta dello Sport calls the 'saddest match in our football history' – Mancini has sent half a dozen flops home from their camp.

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Chelsea star Jorginho is one of those sent packing – with his two penalty misses in the crunch group stage draw with Switzerland weighing heavily on his mind.

Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne join the Blues midfielder in leaving Mancini's group with their international futures now in jeopardy, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Marco Verratti, Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Mancini have also been allowed to return to their clubs, although it's claimed they are only being rested.

Indeed Mancini will look to Verratti – who urged fans to blame him and the team's senior stars for the World Cup KO rather than the youngsters – to lead the rebuild ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany, say reports.

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And Mancini WILL be allowed to make that decision, with Italy bosses now expected to stick with the ex-Manchester City boss.

Mancini took Italy from one of their darkest eras – having missed the 2018 World Cup – and led them to become Euro 2020 champions in a superb summer.

Missing out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this winter is a major blow, but it's believed Italy chiefs trust the boss to continue.

And Mancini has no intention of quitting, despite coming in for huge criticism – including from his own MUM.

Following the defeat to North Macedonia, when grilled about his job security, he revealed: “We will see.

"I think everyone is too disappointed right now to talk about the future.

“I have to say, I care more for my lads now than I did in July.

"This is such a tough moment, my affection for them is immense.

"It’s too early to say what happens next, as there is such disappointment.

"But at the same time this is a squad of great players with a bright future.”

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