The bizarre reason Andrea Pirlo won’t become Italy manager

Andrea Pirlo will not become the Italy manager.

While it looked almost a certainty that the legend would fill the vacancy left by Gennaro Gattuso, it appears one major thing has gotten in the way.

Andrea Pirlo sponsorship deal ruins potential Italy job

Andrea Pirlo has confirmed that his sponsorship deal with a Russian betting company has scuppered his chances of becoming Italy manager. A plethora of Italian politicians have expressed their displeasure with the idea of the ambassador of Fonbet, taking on the position. They claim a person stepping into such a significant role, should not have conflicting views on Italy’s support for Ukraine.

Taking to Instagram, Pirlo said he: “heard last night that I’m no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job.”

The icon has previously explained that his association with Fonbet was linked to his job as the coach of Dubai United in the UAE, and is: “Exclusively for commercial and sports purposes,” adding: “Attributing a political significance to that collaboration means attributing beliefs to me that I have never expressed and don’t belong to me.”

Italian football federation technical director, Paolo Maldini, had his heart set on Pirlo stepping up to the plate. However, the idea did not go down well with Pina Picierno, who serves as a vice-president of the European Parliament. She wrote on social media: “After yet another defeat and another missed World Cup qualification, Italian football desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution. The choice of Andrea Pirlo goes in the exact opposite direction.”

During a discussion with Ansa, Ignazio La Russa, who serves as the head of the Senate and a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, opened up about the concerns he had over the potential appointment, explaining: “I am speaking ​only because you called me: ‌Of course ​I am an Italy fan ​and Pirlo was a great champion, but as a coach, it is a leap in the dark.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty