Andrea Pirlo confirmed this Monday that he will not be the next coach of the Italian national team. Appointed as the main name of the Italian Football Federation to replace Gennaro Gattuso, the Dubai United coach said he was informed on Sunday that he was out of contention for the position.
Pirlo leaves contention for the Italian national team after betting controversy
Andrea Pirlo confirmed this Monday that he will not be the next coach of the Italian national team. Appointed as the main name of the Italian Football Federation to replace Gennaro Gattuso, the Dubai United coach said...
In a long statement published on social media, Pirlo said he remained silent during the negotiations out of respect for the federation and the other people involved, but decided to speak out after his name was excluded.
“In recent days, I have followed with great bitterness the debate surrounding my name and the possibility of taking on the role of coach of the Italian national team,” he wrote.
The former player also refuted criticism related to the contract he maintains as global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker. According to Pirlo, the partnership was signed during his professional career in the United Arab Emirates and has no political ties.
"The professional collaboration at the center of the recent controversies was born as part of my journey in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature. Attributing a political meaning to this relationship means associating with myself convictions that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me", he stated.
Pirlo thanked Paolo Maldini and Leonardo for the trust they showed during the conversations and praised their dedication to Italian football.
The coach regretted that a sporting decision had turned into a public discussion about his personal positions.
"The love for Italy does not depend on a position. It is part of my history, my identity, and will remain with me forever", he declared.
Pirlo's departure from the dispute comes just days after negotiations between the Italian federation and Pep Guardiola failed. The Spaniard is without a club after ending a ten-year spell at Manchester City and was also approached to take over the national team.
According to the information released, Guardiola would have asked for a salary of approximately 20 million euros net per season. Later, however, he announced that he would not accept the position for personal and family reasons.
Without an agreement with the two coaches, the Italian Federation continues to look for a replacement for Gattuso. After missing out on the World Cup again, the team is focusing its preparation on the next edition of the Nations League.
Italy debuts in the group stage against Belgium, on September 25, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
A post shared by Andrea Pirlo Official (@andreapirlo21)
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Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Esporte
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