Chaos in Italy: National team sporting directors resign two weeks into the job

The Italy national football team is falling apart. After missing the last three consecutive World Cups, the federation backed Paolo Maldini as technical director and Leonardo, his advisor, as the figures who would be responsible for rebuilding the new Italian generation that would restore glory to the "Azzurra" at every level. However, nothing could be further from reality. Both have stepped down from their positions, 16 days after their appointment, due to disagreements within the FIGC, including with president Giovanni Malagò, over the arrival of Andrea Pirlo as the new national team coach. Andrea Pirlo was Paolo and Leonardo's choice to become the new national team coach. "Him or him, no one else." However, his link to the Russian betting house Fonbet raised doubts among the top brass of the Italian federation. Especially with its president Giovanni Malagò, who was the one who blocked his appointment to the bench.