Total chaos in Italy... Pirlo out, Maldini set to leave already!

Total chaos at the Italian Federation.

When nothing goes right, nothing goes right. Just as everything seemed set for Andrea Pirlo to be appointed Italy manager, a huge controversy came along and derailed it all.

As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, the former midfielder is currently an ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian sports betting platform.

A revelation that has caused a huge stir in Italy while the war in Ukraine is still raging.

The Italian federation and its president Giovanni Malago have therefore reportedly decided to reject Pirlo’s candidacy, even though it was backed by Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, who have just arrived at the FIGC.

In an Instagram story posted this morning, Andrea Pirlo also confirmed that “I learned last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team job.”

A thunderbolt that could trigger a resounding domino effect.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, this decision could hasten the resignation of Maldini and Leonardo. The federation is already said to be considering appointing Giorgio Chiellini as technical director, and he could try to bring Antonio Conte with him.

Andrea Pirlo’s statement

“Out of respect for the institutions, the Federation and all the people involved, I have chosen to remain silent until now. However, after learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team job, I feel it is my duty to clarify certain points. In recent days, I have followed with great bitterness the controversy that has developed around my name and the possibility of taking over as coach of the Italian national team. Throughout my career, first as a player and then as a coach, I have always carried out my work in strict compliance with the laws of the countries where I have worked and the contracts I have signed. The professional collaboration that has recently been the subject of controversy took place during my career in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature. To attribute a political dimension to this collaboration is to attribute convictions to me that I have never expressed and that are not mine. I would like to thank Maldini and Leonardo for the esteem and trust they have shown me. I know their expertise, their seriousness and the love they have always had for Italian football. I regret that a sporting choice was abandoned so quickly. I was drawn into a public debate that ended up assigning meanings and intentions to me that are not mine. My love for Italy does not depend on a position. It is part of my history, my identity, and it always will be”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.