Andrea Pirlo has formally confirmed that he is no longer in the race to become the next head coach of the Italy national team. The former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder said he felt deep “bitterness” after his possible appointment was blocked by issues linked to his commercial association with a betting company.

A dream appointment turns sour

Pirlo had become the leading name to take charge of the Azzurri rebuild after big targets such as Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti moved away from the job. Reports had even claimed that Pirlo had agreed a four-year contract worth €1.5 million per season to take the reins. But the move has now collapsed in dramatic fashion, leaving the FIGC looking for a fresh direction just when it seemed to have found its man. The 47-year-old’s candidacy had been driven by FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo, both of whom wanted to bring their former AC Milan team-mate into the setup.

The betting controversy explained

The main obstacle was Pirlo’s role as a global brand ambassador for the Russian betting firm Fonbet. With Italy applying strict rules on the advertising and promotion of gambling companies, his link with the firm created a major conflict of interest for a state-linked role. Pirlo ended his silence in a statement posted on Instagram Story after finding out that he was no longer being considered for the position.

“Out of respect for the institutions, the federation and everybody involved, I have chosen to remain silent until now,” Pirlo wrote in a statement. “However, after learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italy national team head coach position, I feel it is necessary to clarify a few points.

“Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness as the debate regarding my name and the possibility of my taking on the role of Italy national team head coach unfold.

“Throughout my career, first as a player and then as a coach, I have always performed my duties within full respect of the laws of the countries I have worked in and the contracts I signed.

“The professional collaboration that is the subject of recent controversy came about as part of my working experience in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature.”

Pirlo rejects political interpretation of his business ties

The 2006 World Cup winner insisted that there was no political meaning behind his commercial partnership and criticised efforts to present it in that way.

Pirlo continued: “Attributing political meaning to this collaboration means attributing convictions to me that I have never expressed and that I do not hold... It is regrettable that a decision based on sporting grounds was quickly dragged into a public debate that ended up attributing motives and intentions to my name that never existed. My love for Italy does not depend on a job.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

What next for the Azzurri?

The sudden collapse of the Pirlo deal leaves Maldini and the FIGC in a difficult spot. The federation had originally planned an internal meeting for Tuesday, which many expected would be the stage for an official unveiling. Instead, they now have to begin their search again from the start with the UEFA Nations League campaign approaching.

Even after the “bitterness” in his statement, Pirlo was careful to keep his relationship with the federation’s top officials intact. “I wish to thank Maldini and Leonardo for the respect and faith that they showed in me,” he added. “I know their competence, their seriousness, and the love that they have always dedicated to Italian football.”