Paolo Maldini, despre Guardiola la Italia: Era cât pe ce să accepte

Paolo Maldini revealed in an interview that he nearly appointed Pep Guardiola as Italy's national team coach during his brief tenure at FIGC. After only 16 days, Maldini resigned due to public protests against the potential hiring of Andrea Pirlo. He initially sought a coach to rejuvenate Italian football and approached Guardiola, who was tempted but ultimately declined due to fatigue and a recent back surgery. Other candidates like Carlo Ancelotti also turned down the role. Maldini and his advisor, Leonardo, aimed for a younger coach, but their preferred choice, Pirlo, faced issues related to his ties with a Russian betting company. This led to their resignation after a disagreement with FIGC's president, resulting in Claudio Ranieri taking over as technical director and Roberto Mancini returning as head coach.