Bergomi: ‘Maldini is the best choice for Italy by some distance, If I can help, I will’

Bergomi: ‘Maldini is the best choice for Italy by some distance, If I can help, I will’ Beppe Bergomi insists that Paolo Maldini is the best choice for Italy and the FIGC in his new role as technical director, but says that he is still willing to offer his assistance if called upon: “If Paolo called me, I would listen to someone like him.” Bergomi on Maldini and Italy’s next head coach: ‘He’s the best choice by some distance’ Maldini has recently been appointed as the new technical director of the Italian FA under recently-elected FIGC President Giovanni Malagò. He will be tasked with ‘rebuilding’ the Italy national team after three successive World Cup disappointments and with reshaping the wider state of football and youth development in Italy. Had Maldini not accepted the offer to return to the Italy national team set-up, there was a list of alternatives that reportedly included Bergomi , who says that he is still willing to offer his assistance if required. “I was pleased to be on the list,” said Bergomi in an in-depth interview with La Repubblica . “There’s a lot of respect between myself and Malagò, he was the one who let me carry the torch during the opening ceremony for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, one of the most exciting moments of my life. “Had Paolo not accepted, I would have been among the possible alternatives and for me, that is a source of pride. Maldini is the best choice, by some distance. 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) “Paolo has experience, he has already been a director at a high level. He has good values, he is competent. I love him, I think he’s the best Italian player I’ve ever played with. He has a new position now, he will be able to make the difference.” Later, when pushed on whether he would still be willing to assist in the Italy set-up if given the opportunity, Bergomi replied: “If Paolo called me, I would listen to someone like him. “I like being a commentator with Sky, but the Italy shirt has characterised my career, from 1982 all the way to 1998. I played in four World Cups. If I can help, I won’t back down.” Maldini has also brought former Milan teammate, ex-Rossoneri and PSG director Leonardo with him as an advisor. ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Paolo Maldini and Leonardo of Milan look on before the Serie A match between AS Roma and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on February 3, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Bergomi says that this is “a smart move. There will be a lot of work, you could have every possible quality, but it’s always better with two. Maldini is practical in the way he manages, Leo is a dreamer, it’s an interesting mix. “They will have to understand how to get the best out of the youth sectors, get the Azzurri supply chain working well. They tell me that there are two promising vintage years, the boys born in 2007 and 2010. “We all need to have the same principles, the same shared guidelines. The various age categories have to play with the same ideas. Think about the national team like a club. I recently watched a youth tournament won by a group of Spanish U11s, they all have a similar way of playing. “We also have a lot of talent, let’s not waste it. We need the courage to let our youngsters play and make mistakes.” It remains to be seen who will be appointed as the next head coach of the Italy national team. Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte remain the frontrunners, and the candidacy of the ‘dream’ option Pep Guardiola has re-emerged over the last few days. LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) “There is no one right choice, it depends on the football you believe in,” said Bergomi when discussing the candidates for the role of Italy CT. “Guardiola intrigues me, and when you have Paolo in your camp, you have the strength and the standing to go and talk to Pep. They can give it a try. “I’m a football romantic. These coaches have made a lot of money. I often hear that if they lower their demands, their status isn’t valued. But I would say, does someone like Guardiola, a football genius, need to think about his status? “Leading a national team can be a stimulating challenge, he could see it as that, as a challenge. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the other candidates aren’t strong either.” Reports on Monday indicate that Mancini is the current favourite for the Italy job. “He’s perfect as a coach,” says Bergomi. “And he has the desire to return. He has vision, he knows how to identify talent, he deserves another opportunity.” FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram. And as for Conte, Bergomi says: “He knows how to build a team in a short period of time, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He demands a lot but gives just as much.” Bergomi has offered his own alternative option that he feels is worth looking at: “I’d also like a profile like (Cesc) Fabregas. His Como side is a model to study, He knows how to work with youngsters, he knows how to develop talent. A shame that he isn’t free and available.”