Italy's coaching search in chaos as Pirlo deal collapses; Maldini, Leonardo to exit

Italy's quest to appoint a new national football team manager has been thrown into disarray, effectively returning to the starting point after the withdrawal of Andrea Pirlo's planned appointment. The Italian Football Federation had reached a verbal agreement with the former Juventus coach, but the deal collapsed just before its official announcement.

The reason for the abrupt cancellation was the discovery of Pirlo's collaboration with a Russian betting company. This revelation led to the immediate retraction of the offer, leaving the federation scrambling to find a suitable replacement. The situation has been described as a "disaster" by some reports.

Adding to the turmoil, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, who were reportedly involved in the process of selecting Pirlo, are also said to be stepping down from their positions. This exodus further complicates the search for a new coach and casts a shadow over the future leadership of the Italian national team.