Maldini and Leonardo resign from FIGC project after Perlo row and sponsor dispute

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have resigned from their roles leading the Italian Football Federation’s new technical project just 16 days after being appointed, following a clash over the choice of the next Italy head coach and political opposition linked to a Russian betting sponsor.

The pair submitted their resignations on Monday afternoon to FIGC president Giovanni Malago, according to Sky Sport Italia, bringing an abrupt end to their brief tenure overseeing the reboot of the Azzurri set-up and the “Club Italia” structure.

Maldini had been named technical director of the federation, with Leonardo appointed as his senior adviser, in an announcement made by newly elected president Malago only 16 days earlier. Maldini was also placed in charge of the “Club Italia” project, which encompasses all national teams.

Dispute over Pirlo and Russian sponsor

Sky Sport Italia reports that the breaking point came when Maldini’s preferred candidate to coach the national team, Andrea Pirlo, was firmly rejected. The opposition was described as being rooted in political concerns tied to an existing sponsorship deal with Russian betting company Fonbet.

Following an initial approach to Pep Guardiola, who turned down the role, Maldini moved quickly to Pirlo – a former team-mate and close friend who shared his vision for the technical project across the national sides.

However, the plan to appoint Pirlo stalled over the controversy surrounding the Russian sponsor, leaving Maldini feeling exposed and unsupported by Malago. That lack of backing prompted him to consider walking away from the project altogether.

Guardiola and Ancelotti decline as talks continue

Maldini and Leonardo’s decision came shortly after a meeting between the FIGC and Serie A clubs at the league’s headquarters – a day which also saw confirmation that both Carlo Ancelotti and Guardiola had rejected overtures to take charge of the Azzurri.

In the hours that followed, discussions continued over alternative candidates. One of the names seriously considered was Thiago Motta, proposed by Leonardo, who had previously worked with the former midfielder at both Inter and Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite exploring Motta and other options, Maldini and Leonardo ultimately concluded that they no longer had the conditions needed to carry out their plans and formally informed Malago of their resignations.

Malago to lead new search with Mancini in frame

With Maldini and Leonardo stepping down, the search for a new Italy coach has effectively been reset and will now be driven directly by Malago.

Current indications, according to the same reports, are that Malago intends to reopen discussions around Roberto Mancini, a figure who has long been regarded as his preferred choice for the national team role.

The latest developments leave the FIGC once again without a settled technical leadership structure or a confirmed head coach, only just over two weeks after Malago had unveiled Maldini and Leonardo as the architects of a new era for the Azzurri.