Could Maldini abandon Italy job if Pirlo appointment blocked?
· Yahoo Sports
The controversy over Andrea Pirlo’s Russian gambling links could be even more damaging, with reports technical director Paolo Maldini could step down if he can’t get his preferred Italy coach candidate.
The situation is escalating rapidly and could see every plan put in place suddenly collapse over the next few days.
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Maldini was convinced to take the brand new role of Italy technical director with the proviso he’d have power to decide the choice of coach.
Maldini needs to feel he has Italy power
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: AC Milan Sporting Strategy & Development Director Paolo Maldini and AC Milan Club Sporting Director Leonardo De Araujo before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on February 16, 2019 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
After Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned down the job, Maldini turned to his old friend and former Milan teammate Pirlo.
However, the fact Pirlo is a global brand ambassador for Russian betting group Fonbet is sparking fury in Italy, as well as the threats of legal action if he is appointed to the Nazionale.
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Now La Gazzetta dello Sport warn that if Pirlo is blocked from the job too, then Maldini could take a step back, believing his position as technical director is untenable.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 21: Andrea Pirlo and Paolo Maldini attend Special Teams Legends Onlus Press Conference on May 21, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
It comes after Pirlo implied that the Russian gambling site was being used as a ‘pretext’ to stop his appointment to the Italy job, one that FIGC President Giovanni Malagò is unenthusiastic about already.
Maldini has a long history of being prepared to walk away if he feels that he doesn’t have the power to make decisions, which is what caused the split with Milan.
Leonardo has rather more experience being in a back-room role, also at Paris Saint-Germain, so the special advisor might act as mediator to get everyone back on the same page.