FIGC Commissioner Giovanni Malagò has described the summer process that ended with Roberto Mancini returning as Italy coach. Football Italia reported, citing quotes via La Gazzetta dello Sport, that Malagò spoke to La Repubblica about the saga.
Malagò's position on Mancini
Malagò said: "There’s no doubt I wanted Roberto from the start, and I’ll confirm that here too."
He also said: "I think I understand football, but the signal I wanted to send was to leave responsibility for the national team to others and focus on organisation, resources, sponsors, diplomatic channels and institutional matters."
Maldini and Leonardo's role
Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned after just 16 days in charge of the Italy setup.
Malagò chose Maldini to lead the project and agreed to let Leonardo share the role.
Malagò said: "I never spoke to Guardiola myself, but Maldini and Leonardo were with him all evening. Pep was honest. He’s taken a sabbatical, partly for family reasons, but if he had done something, he would have done it with us."
Why the Pirlo appointment stopped
According to Malagò, as relayed by Football Italia via La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maldini then wanted a member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning generation and turned to Pirlo.
Malagò said neither he nor Pirlo knew about Pirlo’s contract as an ambassador for a Russian betting company.
Malagò said: "Neither he nor I knew about Pirlo’s contract. At that point I said: ‘Let’s stop here.’ Was I devastated? Not at all."
He added: "Up to then I had been loyal to Maldini, even though I hoped he’d come round to my choice. At a certain point you can only say thank you and goodbye. I’m a fatalist."
Contact with Maldini after the split
Malagò said: "I spoke to Maldini a few days after we split, but not since. I’ll go and see him in Milan after the vote, if he wants."