Chaos in Italy: National team sporting directors resign two weeks into the job

The Italy national football team is falling apart. After missing the last three consecutive World Cups, the federation backed Paolo Maldini as technical director and Leonardo, his advisor, as the figures who would be responsible for rebuilding the new Italian generation that would restore glory to the "Azzurra" at every level. However, nothing could be further from reality. Both have stepped down from their positions, 16 days after their appointment, due to disagreements within the FIGC, including with president Giovanni Malagò, over the arrival of Andrea Pirlo as the new national team coach. Andrea Pirlo was Paolo and Leonardo's choice to become the new national team coach. "Him or him, no one else." However, his link to the Russian betting house Fonbet raised doubts among the top brass of the Italian federation. Especially with its president Giovanni Malagò, who was the one who blocked his appointment to the bench. "After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify certain matters. I thank Maldini and Leonardo," wrote the coach in a statement he shared on his social media. 'Today a meeting took place between members of the federation and Giancarlo Abete (president of Serie A) was the one who commented most on the matters that were discussed. "Today's meeting began with negotiations with Guardiola and then the recommendation of Pirlo. Afterwards, the problems that everyone knows about arose, activities that the federation was unaware of when making this decision," he began in statements reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. ' 'After the matter of the new coach, including the rejection of the Andrea Pirlo option, came the resignation of Maldini and Leonardo. "Let's call them resignations, but I don't think they have been formalized yet. We learned of the news as we were leaving the president's office," he stated. "Until 45 minutes ago, we were thinking about the alternatives proposed by the technical director and the adviser. Now we have to start from scratch with a serious project," he concluded. At the moment, neither party has announced anything officially. ' These resignations open up a vast amount of uncertainty about the new chapter for the Italian national team. According to Di Marzio, Giorgio Chiellini could be Paolo Maldini's replacement in the role of sporting director, while the federation's favorite for the coaching position is Roberto Mancini. The Italian federation has "exploded" again; now it is time to rebuild.