Andrea Pirlo, coach of UAE's United FC, is very close to leading the Italian national team in the upcoming period.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Paolo Maldini and Leonardo immediately turned their attention to Pirlo after Pep Guardiola rejected coaching the Azzurri.

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

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

But there are those who will handle this aspect: Maldini and Leonardo, who have been entrusted by the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, 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 the coach is very enthusiastic about joining a project with a revolutionary character once 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 could be the right time for an official announcement.

Pirlo is expected to sign a contract extending until the 2030 World Cup, although Maldini envisions a long-term project starting with rebuilding Italian football from the under-12 and under-13 age groups, a process that could take between 8 and 10 years to complete.

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