Pirlo has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Gennaro Gattuso, with his status as a former Italy midfielder and 2006 World Cup winner giving him immediate credibility.
His coaching career has been less settled than his playing legacy, but he remains a prominent name in the discussion. He is currently working with United FC in Dubai, giving him ongoing managerial experience outside Italy.
The football argument is therefore clear: Pirlo represents a direct connection to one of the national team’s most successful eras, while also offering experience from club management abroad.
The Luzhniki appearance has made Pirlo’s commercial relationship more visible at a sensitive moment. The report says figures within the FIGC are assessing the arrangement, while Italian parliamentarians are also examining its political and reputational implications.
That moves the decision beyond coaching credentials. Any appointment would carry institutional consequences, particularly because Russia-linked commercial associations are attracting closer scrutiny.
The federation is not simply choosing a tactician. It is deciding whether Pirlo’s public profile and business commitments fit the expectations surrounding the Italy job.
The report says the FIGC declined to comment, while a source close to the matter indicated that Pirlo’s links to Fonbet were still being evaluated. His candidacy therefore remains active, but it is not presented as settled.
The next stage will be the federation’s internal assessment of whether Pirlo’s football qualities outweigh the political reaction surrounding his ambassadorial role. Until that process is complete, Italy’s coaching search remains a contest between a celebrated football identity and a growing reputational concern.