"I learned last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team bench." This is how a new post published on social media by Andrea Pirlo begins.
Following his statement last night, the former 2006 world champion returned to the Fonbet case. "After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the bench of the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify certain aspects. Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness the debate that has developed around my name and the possibility of taking on the role of head coach of the Italian national team," Pirlo writes, reiterating concepts expressed in his post the previous night. "Throughout my career, first as a player and now as a coach, I have always carried out my work in full compliance with the laws of the countries in which I have worked and the contracts I have signed. The professional collaboration at the centre of the recent controversy stems from my working experience in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature," Pirlo reaffirms. "To attribute a political meaning to this collaboration is to ascribe to me beliefs I have never expressed and that do not belong to me."
"I wish to thank Maldini and Leonardo for the esteem and trust they have shown me. I know their competence, their integrity and the love they have always dedicated to Italian football. I regret that a decision of a sporting nature was quickly dragged into a public confrontation," Pirlo concludes, "which ended up attributing to me meanings and intentions that are not mine. Love for Italy does not depend on a role. It is part of my history, my identity, and it will continue to accompany me, always."
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi offered a sharp comment: "It is news that speaks for itself. It is a situation we would have wanted to be different, with more timeliness and a unity of purpose that was never shown. Now we have to recover from an embarrassing situation."
Equally sharp was the response from FIGC president Giovanni Malagò: "We need to see who made the embarrassing situation." He then reiterated regarding the next head coach: "I am working on it, it will happen shortly and you will know everything." He declined to comment on Maldini.
Andrea Pirlo's previous post
Last night, another post appeared. "Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness the debate that has developed around my name and the possibility of taking on the role of head coach of the Italian national team. Out of respect for the institutions, the Federation and all the people involved, I have chosen until now to remain silent. However, I feel it is my duty to clarify certain aspects." It came like a bolt from the blue: the Instagram post by Andrea Pirlo, the leading candidate for the national team bench in recent days, who over the weekend became embroiled in political controversy over his role as global ambassador for a Russian betting agency.
"Throughout my career, first as a footballer and today as a coach, I have always carried out my work in full compliance with the laws of the countries in which I have worked and the contracts I have signed," continues the current manager of United FC in Dubai. "The professional collaboration at the centre of recent controversy arises within the context of my working experience in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature. To attribute a political meaning to this collaboration means attributing to me convictions that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me." A clarification that was to be expected, though delivered in a less anticipated tone than foreseen: "I wish to thank Maldini and Leonardo," writes the former midfielder, mentioning the technical director and his advisor but not the federation president, Giovanni Malagò, "for the esteem and trust they have shown me. I know their competence, their seriousness and the love they have always dedicated to Italian football. Love for Italy does not depend on a position. It is part of my history, my identity, and it will continue to accompany me, always."
'Solidarity' for Pirlo from the Russian Ambassador to Italy
"Sincere and human solidarity" was expressed to Andrea Pirlo by the Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov. "It is saddening to note that, despite your extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italy's image in the world, in your very own country you are today the subject of ostracism by an establishment that many define as 'pseudo-democratic'," Paramonov wrote in an open letter to Pirlo posted on the Russian Embassy's Telegram channel.
Paramonov adds that the fate that has befallen the former playmaker and former candidate for the Italian national team coaching position "has already befallen, in recent years, thousands of Russian athletes, orchestra conductors, musicians, artists and directors," who have been prevented from performing in the West. "Of course my words will change nothing, but I wish to express our sincere and human solidarity to you. And this, despite the fact that the Italian national team that you could have coached, and that perhaps one day you will coach, in future European and World Championships, may well represent a top-level opponent for the Russian national team," adds the Russian Ambassador, who accompanies the text with a photograph of himself wearing a tracksuit and a cap bearing the word 'Russia.'
Paramonov then makes an ironic remark about the fact that Italian media described Pirlo as an "ambassador of the Russian company Fonbet," Russia's leading betting agency. "At a historical moment when diplomacy is going through a profound crisis, being able to count on a personality such as yours in the role of ambassador is undoubtedly an honour for any country or company," Paramonov states.
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