Malagò: “Mancini as head coach, Ranieri as technical director and president of Club Italia”

On Ranieri’s appointment: ‘To bring things full circle, I needed someone with whom to share the manager’s decisions. Someone who would become the president of Club Italia. That person is Claudio Ranieri; just a few minutes ago he assured me of his commitment, sta arriving from Calabria and he will be the one to take on this role,” he added.

“You’re asking me whether Mancini’s past has been taken into account? Of course, and the apologies made by Roberto were important. They form the basis for tomorrow’s press conference. It’s clear that every possible assessment has been made.”

“I expect to be able to give you an update by the end of the week on a third person who will be joining us: he will take on the role of head of the national teams, filling the position that was held years ago by Gigi Riva,” said Malagò. “I would like to entrust him with the coordination of the youth national teams, which are currently coordinated by Viscidi, who will remain with us. This will mark the culmination of a series of decisions that the Federal Council has unanimously endorsed.” Could it be Zola? “He’s one of the possible names,” replied Malagò. The head of the Italian Football Federation then clarified that he had never “considered Chiellini” for the role of technical director. “It’s not my style to poach people who work for a Serie A club or a club that supported my candidacy,” he explained.

Malagò briefed the Federal Council on the “discussions” with the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, regarding all the key issues facing the world of football, and announced during the press conference following the Federal Council meeting that Minister Abodi had been invited to the next Federal Council meeting, scheduled for 17 September.

“We have scheduled our next meetings with Minister Abodi, partly in relation to the Budget Bill and the 1 per cent bill; furthermore, I will be in the Senate tomorrow for a hearing,” said FIGC president Giovanni Malagò. “Did Abodi talk about making a ‘fool of ourselves’ over the Pirlo case? I consider today to be a good and positive day; I spoke to Abodi before the Council meeting and just a short while ago. Whatever I say gets twisted, so I’ll leave it at that,” added Malagò.

The split came about after the definitive withdrawal of the candidacy of Andrea Pirlo, who took to social media to express his “bitterness” at having been drawn into a political controversy.

At the heart of the matter is the former midfielder’s sponsorship deal with the Russian betting company Fonbet, which is considered incompatible by the political world. According to the account that has emerged in the last few hours, however, the FIGC was already aware of the agreement and of the clause that would have allowed Pirlo to terminate it immediately should he return to work in Italia.

The case also sparked a heated exchange between Malagò and the Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi. “I don’t know if the issue of the Russian sponsor is the reason for the refusal, but we must now put right this embarrassment”, said the minister. The federation president’s reply was curt: “It depends on who caused it.” 

In an attempt to avoid a rift, Malagò had also sounded out the willingness of Thiago Motta as a possible compromise candidate, a proposal which, however, did not meet with the approval of Maldini and Leonardo, leading to the definitive split.