Mancini Poised for Stunning Italy Return After Pirlo Deal Blown Up

Roberto Mancini is on the verge of a dramatic comeback as head coach of the Italian national team, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The 61-year-old is preparing to sign a contract with the Italian Football Federation after Andrea Pirlo's appointment was torpedoed at the eleventh hour. Pirlo had been set to take the Azzurri reins, but FIGC president Giovanni Malago blocked the deal just before paperwork was due to be signed. The reason: discovered ties between Pirlo and a Russian bookmaker. The decision triggered an immediate fallout - Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, both central to the federation's new project, resigned in protest. For Mancini, this feels like stepping into a familiar story. He led Italy to glory at Euro 2020, beating England in a dramatic Wembley final. That triumph gave way to a surprise exit in August 2023, when he left the national team for a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. He later managed Qatari side Al-Sadd. Now, with the federation scrambling, they've turned back to the man who knows the job best. Sources indicate that negotiations are at an advanced stage, and an agreement could be finalized soon.