Italian football icon and club legend
The Italian Football Federation has engaged former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in discussions about taking over as Italy's head coach. Maldini and Leonardo traveled to Barcelona to meet Guardiola, who has previously coached at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with Mancini and Pirlo also considered. The talks follow Italy's failure to qualify for multiple World Cups and Gattuso's departure.
The Milan prosecutor’s office has summoned Alessandro Bastoni, a 27-year-old Italy defender, in connection with an inquiry into an alleged escort ring. Investigators allege he paid for sex with a 17-year-old in June 2020. Wiretaps quote a PR representative and Bastoni’s responses; his camp says he did not engage in sexual relations with minors. Other players are under scrutiny in the wider probe.