Thiago Motta emerges as leading candidate for Italy job amid rift over Pirlo snub

Thiago Motta has been put forward as a leading contender to take over as Italy head coach, with his name now at the centre of a growing power struggle inside the Italian Football Federation, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Italian newspaper reports that Motta has become the preferred option for Paolo Maldini, the federation’s technical director, and Leonardo, its technical adviser, as the search continues for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso resigned after Italy failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, leaving the Azzurri without a head coach for a third successive edition of the tournament, which they will again watch from home.

Tensions over Pirlo omission

La Gazzetta dello Sport says the emergence of Motta’s candidacy has also exposed deep tensions within the Italian Football Federation hierarchy.

Maldini and Leonardo are said to be angry with federation president Giovanni Malago, having demanded an explanation for why Andrea Pirlo has effectively been ruled out of contention.

According to the report, both Maldini and Leonardo informed Malago that they would be ready to resign from their positions if they did not receive satisfactory clarification over Pirlo’s exclusion.

Their frustration comes at a time when Italy’s minister for sport, Andrea Abodi, is attempting to calm the situation, working behind the scenes to repair relationships and avoid what he fears could become a damaging public dispute.

Pirlo out of running

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Pirlo has fallen out of the race for the national team job in recent hours after signing a contract with a Russian betting company.

The development is understood to have been a decisive factor in distancing him from the Italy role, with the federation now focusing its attention elsewhere as it looks to appoint a new coach before the next international window.

Maldini and Leonardo, the paper adds, are firmly opposed to the possible returns of Antonio Conte or Roberto Mancini. They reportedly believe both former Italy managers are out of step with what they see as the national team’s long‐term vision.

Modern profile

For Maldini and Leonardo, Motta represents a modern and forward‐thinking figure who fits that vision. La Gazzetta dello Sport says the pair view him as someone capable of working closely with younger players, with strong knowledge of Italian football and the personality to “heal the rift” between the various power centres in the federation.

Motta’s profile is considered appealing not only because of his tactical ideas but also due to his perceived ability to unify differing factions at a time when internal unity is under strain.

Upcoming Nations League tests

The urgency to resolve the coaching vacancy is heightened by Italy’s fixture schedule.

Italy have been drawn in Group A of the UEFA Nations League alongside France, Belgium and Turkey – a demanding section that will test the Azzurri immediately under their new coach.

The group campaign begins during the September and October international windows. Italy are scheduled to face Belgium first, then Turkey in September, before matches against France and Turkey in October.

The group stage will conclude in November, when Italy will meet France and Belgium in that order, fixtures that could prove decisive for their Nations League ambitions and for the early judgment on whoever is appointed to succeed Gattuso.

With the clock ticking towards those games and no agreement yet in place, Motta’s name – and the political fallout surrounding Pirlo’s exclusion – has become the focal point of Italy’s search for a new national team manager.