A report from the Corriere della Sera has reignited the debate around the futures of two iconic figures in Italian football: Paolo Maldini and Massimiliano Allegri. According to sources close to the matter, Giovanni Malagò — a candidate for the presidency of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) — is said to have an ambitious project in mind, built around names of the highest calibre.
Malagò’s Maldini card for the FIGC
Among the hypotheses circulating in federation circles, two names stand out: Allegri as a potential Italy national team head coach, and Paolo Maldini for a senior managerial role within the Italian Football Federation.
The idea of involving Maldini is no coincidence. The legendary Milan captain and defender — who later returned to the club as technical area director until 2023 — embodies the highest values of Italian football: integrity, expertise, deep attachment to the shirt, and an thorough understanding of the game both as a player and as an executive. Bringing such a profile into the Federation would send a clear message: competence and credibility above all else.
The FIGC presidential elections are scheduled for June 2026, so there is still time. For now, however, these remain hypothetical scenarios tied to Malagò’s potential victory — which is far from guaranteed. No decisions have been made yet.
Allegri’s future: between Milan and the Azzurri
The most sensitive issue, however, surrounds Massimiliano Allegri himself. The Tuscan manager, currently at the helm of AC Milan, has never hidden his attraction to the Italy national team bench. And it is precisely that pull — the allure of the Azzurri — that could become a decisive factor in the weeks ahead.
The question on everyone’s lips is simple: what would it take to convince Allegri to stay in Milan? The answer, according to reports, is equally straightforward: a transfer window built around his technical requests.
The transfer market issue: Allegri wants a seat at the table
According to information that has emerged, one of the friction points between the coach and the Milan hierarchy concerns the construction of the squad. Allegri is said to have expressed his desire for greater involvement in transfer decisions, citing a misalignment between his technical requests and the profiles actually brought to the club.
If the manager asks for an experienced central midfielder and a young player with entirely different characteristics arrives instead, or if a traditional centre-forward is replaced by a second striker or a trequartista in the transfer strategy, the tactical system inevitably suffers. These are the kinds of situations that, over time, can erode the trust between a coach and his board.
In the coming months, it will therefore be crucial to understand whether Milan’s management — with Giorgio Furlani at the forefront — is willing to listen more closely to the coach’s technical needs. If the answer is yes, the chances of Allegri remaining at the club will increase significantly.
Why Allegri remains an asset for AC Milan
Beyond any tactical preferences, Allegri brings a wealth of experience that is genuinely hard to replicate. The ability to manage complex environments, to navigate between internal tensions and external pressures, is a rare quality that only comes with years of work at the highest level and major trophies. It is no coincidence that Milan turned to him during a period of transition.
Replacing him with a young or foreign coach who lacks a solid understanding of Italian football and the inner dynamics of a club like AC Milan could prove to be a high-risk move. The club’s recent history — marked by managerial changes over the past few seasons — is a clear reminder of how damaging an unplanned coaching change can be, especially when not backed by the right transfer strategy.
The final word belongs to the pitch
The definitive decision on Allegri’s future will need to be taken at the end of the season, in the light of the results achieved and, above all, depending on whether Milan secures a place in next season’s Champions League. That is the minimum objective the club must reach, and it is around that milestone that every future assessment will revolve.
AC Milan has every card to play to close the season on a high. Confidence in Allegri’s work and in the quality of the squad remains strong, and June will be the right moment to sit down together and build the Rossoneri’s future.
Source: Corriere della Sera
