Malagò: ‘I’m convinced I made the right decision about Pirlo and the Italy job’

Malagò: ‘I’m convinced I made the right decision about Pirlo and the Italy job’ FIGC President Giovanni Malagò believes that he made the correct decision to stop Andrea Pirlo from being appointed as the head coach of the Italy national team, has admitted that the Lega Serie A wanted Antonio Conte, but says that Roberto Mancini accepted the job ‘almost without reading the contract’. Malagò sat down to discuss the rollercoaster that has led to Mancini’s return as CT in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. It has been a day of bombshell interviews, as Paolo Maldini also spoke to the Corriere della Sera about his short-lived experience as technical director of the FIGC and the breakdown in his relationship with Malagò. You can read Maldini’s full interview in English here. Malagò has his say on Maldini, Pirlo, Mancini and Conte Malagò was not asked for a response to Maldini’s interview, given that they were published on the same morning, but did say that he still intends to meet up with him and Leonardo once the summer draws to a close. “I will see him after the holidays. His and Leonardo’s decision to step away is part of what I call ‘linearity of behaviour’, that’s how it went,” Malagò told La Gazzetta dello Sport. Malagò was also asked about the role he played in blocking the appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the Italy national team, which ultimately led to Maldini’s resignation. REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 18: Head coach of Juventus Andrea Pirlo speaks with the media during an Juventus press conference ahead of the TIMVISION Cup Final between Atalanta BC and Juventus on May 18, 2021 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for Lega Serie A) “It was all done, believe me,” he insisted. “Everything was ready for his announcement, then the story of Andrea’s partnership with the Russian betting site came out. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t sleep while that was happening, but in the end, I’m convinced I made the right decision.” Malagò was questioned why he decided to speak publicly about Italy’s approach for Pep Guardiola when the deal clearly was not anywhere close to being done at that point. He said: “And why not discuss it when the Guardiola news had become public knowledge? “Trying to get Pep in the Azzurri dugout fit with Paolo and Leo’s philosophy. You, the Gazzetta (dello Sport), came out with rumours about the possibility of Guardiola accepting the head coach role. We’re in 2026, if pictures of Maldini and Leonardo in Barcelona start circulating, the dice have been cast, it’s impossible to hide the evidence.” Instead, Roberto Mancini has returned as head coach and Claudio Ranieri will serve as technical director of the FIGC. OLDENZAAL, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 17: Head coach of Italy Roberto Mancini attends before an Italy Training Session the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 at K.V.V Quick ’20 Stadium on June 17, 2023 in Oldenzaal, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) “The decision is also shared with Claudio. Mancini knows the environment well, he knows most of the boys, he knows how to enhance young talent. Speaking of the players, many of them over the last few weeks wrote to me to tell me that he would be the best coach, it wasn’t only the message from Donnarumma, which I told you about.” Malagò was also asked about his long-standing friendship with Mancini. He said: “We’ve known each other for a long time. We’ve played a couple of ‘old boys’ games at the club, but we’d never properly met up. That’s the narrative, it makes no sense to explain a choice which is the most logical one at the moment.” FIGC President Giovanni Malago (left) with coach Roberto Mancini (right): @coppa_canottieri via Instagram. Malagò insists that he only approached Mancini for the role once it became clear that Pirlo would not be a viable option. “I only called him after the stuff with Pirlo was over,” he said. “‘Yes, I feel like it’ was his answer and he also answered questions about the breakdown in his relationship with the federation when he left to go to Saudi Arabia. Let me tell you one thing: He signed the contract immediately, almost without reading it.” Malagò does not deny the fact that the Lega Serie A wanted Antonio Conte as the next Italy head coach, but says that they weren’t unanimous. “Not all of them (wanted Conte), to tell the truth, but the majority did, that’s true, they wanted us to choose Antonio.”