Overview
- Paolo Maldini was installed as FIGC technical director this week and will work with Leonardo to lead a rapid search for a new Italy coach with Andrea Pirlo now the frontrunner but federation president Giovanni Malagò has not yet given full backing.
- The FIGC wants a decision quickly because Italy must be ready for Nations League fixtures in September and officials are weighing the tradeoff between an experienced hire and a 'homegrown' project.
- Massimiliano Allegri officially began his tenure at Napoli with presentations, a tour of Castel Volturno and a dinner with president Aurelio De Laurentiis as the squad prepares for pre-season testing and the Dimaro Folgarida retreat.
- Napoli reopened contract talks with rising academy forward Antonio Vergara after a recent pause, a meeting that follows a reported Transfermarkt valuation jump from €2.5m to about €15m and outside interest the club has previously rebuffed.
- At Juventus new AD Giovanni Carnevali has set a 'sell first, buy later' market plan, signalled a scouting overhaul, publicly rejected PSG's Kolo Muani price above €45m and is monitoring targets such as Atalanta's Ederson while competing with Milan.