Pirlo, Pep and Paolo: How a summer of self-inflicted controversy left new Italy feeling like the old Italy
Quick summary
An Athletic editorial examining how a series of self-inflicted controversies during the summer of 2026 have undermined Italian football's efforts at renewal, leaving the national team and its football culture resembling the dysfunctional status quo of previous eras.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAfter courting Guardiola and Ancelotti, Andrea Pirlo is no longer under consideration as head coach, raising questions of Paolo Maldini...
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What happened
The piece reflects on the turbulence within Italian football during the summer of 2026, weaving together the stories of Andrea Pirlo, Pep Guardiola, Paolo Maldini, Carlo Ancelotti and CONI figure Giovanni Malagò. It argues that despite the promise of a new generation of leaders, recurring patterns of political infighting, questionable appointments and self-inflicted drama have trapped Italian football in a familiar cycle. The article uses the careers and public roles of these figures as a lens to critique the structural and cultural issues holding back the Azzurri and Serie A. The underlying message is that Italy's football establishment continues to repeat the mistakes of the past rather than embrace genuine reform.