Andrea Pirlo has put an end to his candidacy: he will not be the next coach of the National team. He communicated it himself, first with a long post and then with an Instagram story, explaining that he had «learned that he is no longer the candidate for the Italy bench». An acknowledgment that comes after hours of growing tension within the Football Federation, where the position of president Giovanni Malagò has become increasingly clear.
Malagò’s decision and the Fonbet issue
The federal president chose to stop Pirlo’s appointment, deeming his commercial ties with Fonbet, a betting platform also active in Russia, too problematic. Pirlo tried to downplay the issue, calling the partnership «exclusively commercial and sporting», but his justification – which linked the agreement to the «path in the United Arab Emirates» – was denied by United FC Dubai, the team he coaches: no connection between the club, Fonbet or its owner. The matter intertwined with other elements that weighed on Malagò’s judgment: doubts about Pirlo’s real suitability for such a delicate role, the incompatibility related to his son, an agent not yet registered, and the general context of a National team coming from three missed World Cup qualifications.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Andrea Pirlo Official (@andreapirlo21)
Maldini and Leonardo ready to leave
The halt to Pirlo’s appointment has opened a deep rift with technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo, the main supporters of his candidacy. The two, opposed to the president’s U-turn, are considering resigning: a hypothesis that, if realized, would cause an institutional earthquake less than a month after the new governance takes office. Malagò will meet Maldini and Leonardo in the late afternoon of Monday, July 27, around 6 PM. But it is not excluded that new developments may emerge earlier, given the growing tension.
Mancini returns to the top of the list
With Pirlo out of the picture, the name that forcefully returns to the table is Roberto Mancini. The former coach remains the federal president’s first option, although his eventual appointment would require an agreement with Maldini and Leonardo: an agreement that, at present, seems far from certain.
The Federal Council on July 28: from a decisive day to an unpredictable day
On Tuesday, July 28, the Federal Council will meet, which initially was supposed to sanction the announcement of the new coach. Now, however, everything is in question: the choice of the selector is frozen; the position of Maldini and Leonardo is in the balance; the Football Federation might find itself having to appoint a new technical director as well.
Who will replace Maldini? The hypotheses
If the duo were to really leave, the FIGC would have to rebuild its technical structure. The first hypotheses lead to two very different profiles:
- Giorgio Chiellini, a symbol of the National team and a reference figure for credibility and leadership;
- Claudio Ranieri, who after his last experience at Roma would represent a solution of experience and balance.
An increasingly tense scenario
The crisis that erupted around Pirlo’s candidacy risks becoming the first major shake-up of the new federal governance. In an already complicated historical moment for Italian football, the prospect of an immediate reshuffle adds uncertainty to a path that should have marked a relaunch.
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