“Out of respect for the institutions, the Federation, and everyone involved, I have chosen until now to remain silent, but after learning last night that I am no longer the candidate for the bench of the Italian National Team, I feel it is my duty to clarify a few aspects. Over the past few days, I have witnessed with great bitterness the debate that developed around my name and the possibility of taking on the role of Head Coach of the Italian National Team.Throughout my career, first as a footballer and now as a coach, I have always carried out my work in full compliance with the laws of the countries in which I have worked and the contracts I have signed. The professional collaboration at the center of recent controversy stems from my career path in the United Arab Emirates and is exclusively commercial and sporting in nature. Attributing a political meaning to this collaboration means attributing convictions to me that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me,” wrote Pirlo.
