Just weeks after taking charge of a major Italian football overhaul, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo are already contemplating dramatic resignations. According to Sky Sport Italia, the high-profile duo is prepared to walk away from the federation following the sudden collapse of Andrea Pirlo's managerial candidacy.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The scheduled talks between Pirlo's representatives and the FIGC were abruptly cancelled amid mounting controversy surrounding the former midfielder's commercial ties to Russian betting firm Fonbet. Pirlo defended the partnership by insisting that the arrangement was strictly "commercial and sportive" without any political backing.
Following failed pursuits of Pep Guardiola, Maldini and Leonardo had positioned Pirlo as the centerpiece of their ambitious rebuilding project for the national team. The directors reportedly accepted their administrative roles under the explicit guarantee of maintaining full autonomy over managerial appointments.
If the federation ultimately bypasses their vision and imposes an alternative choice, both icons are expected to hand in their resignations immediately. Italian media reports have already linked high-profile figures such as Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini with the vacant managerial position.
Meanwhile, alternative internal restructuring scenarios point toward potential administrative roles for Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Ranieri, or Silvio Baldini. At this turbulent rate, Italy's long-awaited return to World Cup glory remains a distant prospect.