The Italy Football Federation has reportedly steered clear of appointing Andrea Pirlo as the team's next head coach due to Pirlo's links with Russian betting brand Fonbet.
Pirlo is currently the coach of UAE first-division side United FC, having taken over the job in July 2025. As per reports, he was in talks with the FIGC to become the next Azzurri boss after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following the play-off final defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina on penalties in March.
However, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, FIGC president Giovanni Malago has called off a potential deal, as Pirlo is the global ambassador of Fonbet, a betting brand with Russian ownership.
Amid strained relations between Italy and Russia owing to the latter's Ukraine conflict, Pirlo's visit to Moscow as part of promotional work for the brand, has led to unease about the Italian potentially becoming the new Azzurri boss.
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Calcio Mercato), Malago wants time to explore the relationship between Pirlo and Fonbert. Pirlo's lawyers say that their client's relationship with Fonbert is related to his role at United FC, meaning the termination of that contract would invalidate his relationship with Fonbert.
Pirlo is said to be keen to end his Dubai stay by terminating his United deal so that he can have 'concrete' discussions with the FIGC, but the midfielder's association with Fonbert appears to be a key sticking point.
After Pep Guardiola reportedly turned down the chance to manage the Azzurri, Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte have emerged as potential candidates, amid talks with Pirlo hitting a roadblock.
Andrea Pirlo was widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders during his playing days, especially with Italy, scoring 13 times and assisting 26 goals in 116 appearances.
The former AC Milan man's lone goal in 13 appearances at the FIFA World Cup came on his competition debut against Ghana in a 2-0 group-stage win during the Azzurri's triumphant 2006 campaign.
Andrea Pirlo also provided three assists during the competition, including one to Marco Materazzi for the equalising goal against France in the final, which Marcello Lipp's side won 4-3 on penalties to win the World Cup for the fourth time.
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