Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resign from Italy roles after 16 days

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have officially resigned from their roles within the Italian football structure. Their tenure lasted only 16 days, as the pair found themselves unable to implement their planned restructuring of the national team setup.

According to Sky Sport, the departure was prompted by a fundamental disagreement regarding the appointment of the new head coach. Maldini and Leonardo had been working with a specific profile in mind and were never in favor of candidates like Roberto Mancini or Antonio Conte. Having felt restricted by Malagò's preferences and lacking the autonomy required to fulfill their mandate, they decided to step down.

With the departure of the duo, focus has shifted to the sporting director vacancy. Giorgio Chiellini is currently considered the frontrunner to take on the role.