Giovanni Malagò takes everyone by surprise: “Maldini? There might even be a surprise.”

After the heavy defeat in Zenica, Italy’s comeback rests with the new federation president, Giovanni Malagò, who is working to define the new coaching staff. The priority remains the appointment of the technical director. “This is the week for the technical director—I haven’t changed my mind. It’s Thursday now, and I hope to calm the turmoil by the weekend. I’m working hard on it; there might even be a surprise,” Malagò said on the sidelines of the ceremony for the conferral of an honorary degree from ACS Asomi College of Science, which he received in the CONI Hall of Honor for his contributions to sports diplomacy.

The name of the future technical director, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty. Paolo Maldini remains the federation president’s preferred candidate, but as the hours pass, his candidacy appears increasingly complicated. Malagò has not yet lost hope, but time is running out, and there is a growing sense that the former Milan captain might turn down the position—in part because the role would require a permanent move to Rome, a solution considered incompatible with his lifestyle.

“Once we’ve resolved this initial issue of the technical director, paradoxically, it might be easier to move forward with the rest,” Malagò added, suggesting that the choice of technical director will also be decisive in determining the new head coach. It is precisely this reference to a possible “surprise” that is fueling the rumors: should Maldini’s candidacy fall through, the most likely candidates would be Alessandro Costacurta and Demetrio Albertini, while Giuseppe Bergomi and Gianfranco Zola—who are highly regarded by various members of the federation—remain in the background.

The president’s goal is to reach a decision by the end of the week, thereby putting an end to speculation about the national team’s new structure. On the coaching front, meanwhile, the prospect of Roberto Mancini’s return is gaining momentum. The former head coach, who led Italy from 2018 to 2023 and won the European Championship, is said to have edged out the competition from other candidates—including Antonio Conte—to become the top favorite to take the helm of the Azzurri. Before officially announcing the choice of head coach, however, the Federation will need to resolve the issue of the new technical director—a step considered essential to launching Italy’s new project.