The crisis in Italian football has reached a new level of tension. Just 10 days after taking over as sporting and technical directors of the Italian national team, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have decided to leave the project, sparking a scandal within the Italian Football Federation.
The sudden departure of the leadership duo has a clear trigger: the definitive veto against hiring Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach of the Azzurri.
The “Pirlo Case” Shatters the Project
After sounding out world-class coaches such as Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, Maldini and Leonardo had chosen Pirlo to lead the team’s rebuilding effort. However, the president of Italian soccer, Giovanni Malagò, put a stop to the move.
The reasons behind the collapse of this plan include:
- Controversial commercial ties: Pirlo’s appointment was blocked at the last minute due to his role as an ambassador for a Russian betting company—a situation the former player himself acknowledged on social media.
- Management split: Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the management duo resigned in response to Malagò’s refusal. Without the backing to sign their ideal candidate, Maldini and Leonardo decided to step aside.
Secrecy and Reactions
The tension was evident during the FIGC meeting held on Monday. In fact, President Giovanni Malagò left the organization’s headquarters through a side door to avoid the press.
Following the meeting, several Italian sports officials reacted to the scandal:
- Andrea Abodi (Minister of Sports): He urged officials to “fix this negative image” that is being projected internationally.
- Ezio Maria Simonelli (President of Serie A): He said the resignations did not take him by surprise because the tension was “palpable.” “Maldini had chosen Pirlo, but Pirlo will not be the head coach. I regret this because Maldini was a great choice, a person of strong values,” he noted.
- Giancarlo Abete (President of the National Amateur League): He lamented the situation, though he clarified that the resignations “have not yet been formalized” legally.
According to reports in *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the Federation is expected to issue an official statement on Tuesday, once the organization’s Federal Council meeting concludes, to clarify the situation regarding the Italian national team’s coaching staff.
