Maldini and Leonardo are leaving the Italian Football Federation. Thiago Motta remains the favourite to become the national team’s manager

La storia sul profilo Instagram di Andrea Pirlo in cui conferma di non essere più candidato a commissario tecnico azzurro

The manager of United FC in the United Arab Emirates has had his say on the controversy surrounding his name and the controversy over his role as a brand ambassador for the Russian betting agency Fonbet: “Over the last few days, I have watched with great bitterness the debate that has developed around the possibility of taking on the role of head coach of the Italian national team,” he commented.

In the post, Pirlo emphasised that he has always respected the laws of the countries in which he has worked and the agreements he has signed: “The professional collaboration at the centre of recent controversy arose as part of my career in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature. To attribute a political significance to this collaboration is to attribute to me beliefs that I have never expressed and which do not reflect my views,” he wrote.

The former national team manager then thanked Paolo Maldini and Leonardo for the trust they had placed in him: “I am well aware of their expertise, their professionalism and the love they have always shown for Italian football.” “I regret that a decision of a sporting nature was so quickly dragged into a public debate which ended up attributing meanings and intentions to me that are not my own,” he continued.

“My love for Italia isn’t dependent on a role. It’s part of my history, part of my identity, and it will always be with me,” the footballer concluded.

“Pirlo’s decision to step down from the Azzurri bench? It’s news that speaks for itself; it’s a situation we would have liked to have seen handled differently, with a sense of urgency and a shared vision that failed to materialise.” This was stated by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, speaking about the Pirlo case on the sidelines of the presentation of the Rete Hub in Piacenza. “Now we need to make up for this embarrassment,” he added.

“The new manager? I’ve been receiving loads of messages since this morning. I’ll speak to everyone as soon as possible, as is only right.” These were the brief remarks made by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, speaking to *Il Sole 24 Ore*, on the selection of the new head coach following the Pirlo affair, whilst commenting on the rankings of the 20th edition of the Sportivity Index, compiled by PTS Sport and published by *Il Sole 24 Ore*. “For us to regain our competitive credibility at the very top – where nothing can be taken for granted – we need to work with young players who are currently aged between 13 and 16. To do this, you need to overhaul the entire system in terms of training and culture, and this also includes the coach. It’s a matter of sowing the seeds; the ideas are very clear,” added Malagò, who described his relationship with Baggio as “wonderful”.

“I’m working on it,” added Malagò, “a name will be announced shortly. Is Abodi worried about making a fool of himself? We’ll have to see who’s to blame.”

The Russian ambassador to Italia, Alexey Paramonov, also commented on the situation, expressing his ‘sincere and heartfelt solidarity’ with Pirlo. “It is sad to note that, despite your extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italia’s image abroad, you are today, in your own country, the target of ostracism by an establishment that many describe as ‘pseudo-democratic’,” wrote Paramonov in an open letter to Pirlo published on the Russian Embassy’s Telegram channel.