Paolo Maldini and Leonardo are ready to step down as directors at the Italian football federation.
The pair are in charge of negotiations but have so far flopped.
They revealed that they spoke to both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, and after being unsurprisingly rejected by both, they turned to Andrea Pirlo.
Pirlo has not only had a completely underwhelming coaching career, but his deal with a Russian gambling company was called into question and ultimately deemed prohibitive.
Pirlo deal called of by Italian FA president
Pirlo claims the deal is ‘purely commercial and sporting’ and not political, but federation president Giovanni Malagò has rejected the excuse and called off the signing.
As such, Sky Italia report that Maldini and Leonardo are likely to resign.
The Italian media are already citing Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Ranieri and Silvio Baldini as potential replacements for the pair.
Meanwhile, serial winner Antonio Conte and Euro 2020 champion Roberto Mancini remain available as more impressive alternatives to Pirlo.
Pirlo has faced criticism from leading figures in Italy, including the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno.
She commented: “He freely and repeatedly lent his prestige to a normalisation effort for Putin’s regime, participating in initiatives exploited by Kremlin propaganda while Ukraine was being bombed.
“Choosing him is a grave mistake.”
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