Andrea Pirlo, coach of the UAE's United, is very close to taking charge of the Italian national team in the near future.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have directly turned their attention to Pirlo, after Pep Guardiola declined to coach the Azzurri.

The Italian federation prefers a younger coach who favors modern football and is open to advice and guidance, which has boosted Pirlo's stock over Antonio Conte and Mancini.

In the past, some have accused Pirlo of lacking the strong personality needed to manage the dressing room, especially given that the Italian national team's dressing room is not easy at all.

However, there are those who will handle this aspect: Maldini and Leonardo, whom the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, has entrusted with a large part of the decisions regarding the team's future, and they are ready to impose their authority on anyone who might challenge Pirlo.

Information indicates that talks with Pirlo have reached an advanced stage, and that the coach is very enthusiastic about joining a project with a revolutionary character once he is chosen to lead the Italian national team.

At the Italian Football Federation, everyone is preparing for a busy working weekend, and the Federal Council is scheduled to meet next Tuesday. Although it does not officially participate in the selection process, as the statute only provides for its 'consultation,' it might be the right time for the official announcement.

It is expected that Pirlo will sign a contract extending until the 2030 World Cup, even though Maldini envisions a long-term project that starts with rebuilding Italian football from the age groups of 12 and 13, a process that may take between 8 and 10 years to complete.

Financially, estimates indicate that while Mancini would have agreed to a salary of 2 million euros per year, Pirlo's salary is not expected to exceed 1.5 million euros per season.