FIGC president Giovanni Malag has announced that Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma is happy with the appointment of Roberto Mancini as the new Azzurri boss, despite his worry about the controversial departure of the former coach in 2023 to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking in the wake of the official presentation of Mancini and newly appointed club Italia president Claudio Ranieri, Malag said Donnarumma had told him that the team was supportive. “Last night Gigio Donnarumma sent a message saying, ‘President, thank you, this is what the team and I want,’ “ Malag said.
Appointment comes amid turmoil within the Italian Football Federation, after technical director Paolo Maldini and special advisor Leonardo resigned following Andrea Pirlo’s failed bid after he took an ambassadorial role with a Russian betting company currently blocked by the Italian government.
Malag also took on the issue of the widening gulf between the United States’ UEFA and the world body, FIFA, which boiled over when FIFA chief Gianni Infantino allegedly floated the idea of off-loading shares of lucrative tournaments like the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
Malag assured UEFA is vehemently against the idea and relations between the two bodies are already in ‘total conflict.’ He also mentioned a meeting between European federations in regard to the case and emphasized Italy’s alignment with UEFA since the row will broaden the dividing line in world football.
