OFFICIAL: Andrea Pirlo is no longer a candidate to lead the Italy national team

Former legend Andrea Pirlo has officially stated that he will not be the new head coach of the Italian national team, following the FIGC's ultimate decision.

This information was shared by Andrea Pirlo himself on his personal Instagram page. The legendary former midfielder of Italian football wrote briefly but with regret: 'Last night, I was informed that I am no longer a candidate for the position of head coach of the Italy national team.'

Pirlo's post quickly attracted great attention from fans and the media, especially since he was once considered the most promising candidate for the helm of the Azzurri.

In recent days, Andrea Pirlo was said to have come very close to taking over the coaching bench of the Italy national team. The two sides went through several rounds of negotiations and were believed to have made positive progress. However, the deal unexpectedly fell apart at the last moment, leading the Italian Football Federation to withdraw and end the plan to appoint the 47-year-old manager.

According to multiple sources, the reason the deal could not be completed stems from the commercial contract that Andrea Pirlo signed with Fonbet, a betting company based in Russia. Although several sources claim that Pirlo ended his partnership with this company a few years ago, the issue still sparked controversy within the Italian Football Federation and is believed to be a key factor in the FIGC's decision not to proceed with his appointment.

This development has also sparked speculation about the future of Paolo Maldini, who currently serves as the technical director of the Italy national team. Some sources suggest that the AC Milan legend may consider resigning due to disagreement with the federation's decision. However, other reports insist that Maldini will remain with the team and focus on finding a suitable candidate in the coming period.

The exclusion of Andrea Pirlo from the race for the head coach position of the Italy national team is seen as an unexpected turn, as he had previously received support from many experts and fans.

In the coming period, the FIGC will have to urgently find a new manager to prepare for the important goals of the Azzurri in upcoming international tournaments.