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Mancini and Conte were strong candidates
The new management of the Italian federation has chosen Andrea Pirlo to coach the national team in the next round, but the coach faces a controversial obstacle due to his association with Vonbet, one of Russia’s biggest sports betting companies, as its brand ambassador.
For the new technical director of the Italian Federation Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo, the road does not seem easy.
After Pep Guardiola refused to save Italy’s failing national team despite talks that lasted several days and appeared to be going well, the pair now face a new hurdle after they chose Pirlo to lead the national team as questions quickly emerged about his Russian links, according to the newspaper. “L’Equipe” French.
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From July 2025, Pirlo has been coaching the United Arab Emirates, Dubai United Emirates, one of whose main sponsors is the Russian chain of department stores “Fix Price” founded by Russian oligarch Sergey Lomakin.
Lomakin also has interests in Wonpet, of which Pirlo became an ambassador in October 2025.
The AC Milan and Juventus legend’s visit to Moscow last May to attend an event organized by a company linked to the Russian Federation had already sparked controversy in Italy, but the issue has now taken on new dimensions after the coach’s name was linked with taking over the Azzurri.
“serious mistake”
Pina Picerno, Vice President of the European Parliament, said in statements that caused controversy in the Italian political class. “Pirlo gave his position to the Putin regime’s normalization process while Ukraine was under bombing. His choice is a big mistake.”
There is a state of calm around Pirlo, emphasizing that his contracts with Dubai United and the Russian agency can be terminated at any time on his initiative. Once these links are terminated, there will be virtually no problems.
But the newly elected president of the Italian Federation, Giovanni Malago, is waiting for clear guarantees in this matter, because he wants Pirlo to get rid of those ties quickly.
Malago has a close relationship with Roberto Mancini and preferred the latter to reinstate him as his national team coach after he led Italy from 2018 to 2023, before stepping down without hesitation following an offer from Saudi Arabia in 2023, a year before the European Championships.
On the other hand, clubs in the Italian league sought to appoint Antonio Conte because he is a strong personality who can achieve results quickly. But Maldini and Leonardo chose Pirlo, and their decision is also hard to ignore after they were recently appointed to lead the new project.
The reports suggest that there will be more discussions over Pirlo’s future in the coming hours, as well as the assurances required before he is officially appointed Italy coach.
