Italy: New Behind-the-Scenes Details Emerge About Gigi Buffon: A Clear Response to Maldini and Leonardo

The new Italy that Paolo Maldini and Leonardo are trying to build had envisioned—somewhat surprisingly—the involvement of Gigi Buffon, who had stepped down as team manager of the national team following the sporting disaster in Zenica. The behind-the-scenes story is reported by “La Gazzetta dello Sport,” which reports that the former Milan captain, acting on the recommendation of FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, proposed an even more central role—working very closely with the new head coach—for the 2006 World Cup champion, who, however, politely declined the invitation.

Malagò had spoken personally with Buffon, giving him advance notice of the call from the new technical director and the Brazilian advisor. Buffon had said he was pleased to have been considered, but after a few days of reflection, he confirmed that he had brought his time with the Azzurri to a close—albeit reluctantly—following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The former goalkeeper has simply chosen to take a break from a world he has been a part of—practically without stopping—for over thirty years, first as a player and then as the national team’s manager. Stepping down from this new role will allow him to recharge by dedicating himself to his family, his children, and his studies to become a sports executive. Maldini and Leonardo, with their proposal, gave him pause, but not enough to make him change his mind.

In short, the effort to rebuild the Italian national team in the wake of the playoff loss to Bosnia continues to face obstacles: the race for the head coach position has already suffered a setback following the failure to secure Guardiola, and now Buffon’s refusal also risks complicating the plans of Malagò, Maldini, and Leonardo. And the national team’s return to action, scheduled for September, is drawing ever closer.