Barely weeks after stepping into their roles to rebuild Italian football, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo are already contemplating walking away from the federation.
// Related stories
Enjoyed this article?
Get more compelling stories delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter for free!
Subscribe Sekarang →According to Sky Sport Italia, Andrea Pirlo will not become the new national manager after scheduled meetings between his entourage and the FIGC were abruptly canceled following public backlash over his past links to Fonbet, a Russian sports betting enterprise.
Pirlo has consistently maintained that his past collaboration with the betting company was strictly "commercial and sportive" rather than political, though the explanation failed to quell the unfolding controversy.
Following the initial rejection by Pep Guardiola, Maldini and Leonardo had staked their entire rebuilding project on Pirlo as the central figure to lead a renewed Nazionale.
According to reports, the high-profile duo accepted their federation positions under the explicit guarantee that they would retain full autonomy in selecting the head coach.
If the FIGC ultimately appoints a manager who diverges from their blueprint, both directors are fully prepared to resign from their newly assumed posts.
Meanwhile, the Italian press has already begun speculating about potential alternatives for the dugout, including Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, while figures like Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Ranieri are linked to possible sporting director roles.