Malagò: Italy has ‘Plan B and C’ if Maldini rejects offer

Giovanni Malagò, president of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation), confirmed that he has a 'Plan B and C' if Paolo Maldini does not accept the proposal to become the new technical director of the Italian national team. In an interview with the Radio Anch'io Sport program, Malagò commented that by the end of this week, he will evaluate the situation and decisions regarding the Azzurri's coaching staff, which could involve more than just the two main candidates being considered. Maldini, former AC Milan full-back and icon, is seen as the main name to assume this crucial position, which will also have an influence on the selection of the national team's new coach. "Maldini has the necessary experience and knowledge, which goes beyond his career as a player, making him an ideal candidate for the role of technical director, being the point of contact between the president and the Federal Council," said Malagò. However, the FIGC president highlighted the importance of having alternative plans, reinforcing that he is calm about the situation: "We need to have a Plan B and maybe even a Plan C; I am very, very calm. By the end of this week, at the latest, I will take stock of everything, including the coach's situation." The offer to Maldini has been on the table for a few days, and Malagò is not worried about the time it is taking the former defender to give a final answer: "When influential football figures asked me to take over, I said I was absolutely unavailable because I was quite tired after the Olympic journey and had other ideas besides my business life," said Malagò.  He also added that the delay in responding can be interpreted as a sign of seriousness and not something negative. The main candidates for the position of coach, according to rumors, are Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, but Malagò did not rule out the possibility that the choice could involve other names. "The only truth is that I did not speak to any coach; this contradicts my intention to evaluate and decide with the technical director who will be chosen," he added. Furthermore, Malagò mentioned that Serie A clubs are willing to offer financial support to the FIGC to hire a new coach for the Italian national team. "The clubs' willingness to help the Federation with the coach's salaries is very important. But we should not get lost in discussions about how much the coach should cost," he said. "What's even better, however, is Serie A's total commitment to supporting the national team. Maybe they realize we've hit rock bottom. A player involved in a World Cup gains international value, creating a clear economic return for clubs too. The movement needs to be rebuilt, but I don't think everything should be thrown away; there are important young players. In my mind, we have six years until Euro 2032, an almost ideal period to develop the best possible athletes." During the same interview, Malagò criticized FIFA for the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card in the World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium: "When you see a decision like this, the meritocracy that is the basis of football isloses," he concluded.  --- ## Related Articles 1. [Lazio: Mario Gila's forgetfulness in Milan could be resolved;](https://azkalsgoal.com/fil/news/lazio-mario-gila's-milan-possible-resolution-in-milan-is-my-target) 2. [Ruben Amorim, new Milan coach: "It's an honor to be here"](https://golazopro.com/en/news/ruben-amorim-new-milan-coach-is-an-honor-to-be-here)

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