Rino could lead Italy in two friendly matches (with the young players): he will respond after Easter. If not, Under 21 coach Baldini is ready
One is already away, the other is thinking about it. Twenty years ago they would have become world champions, today they are in tears for the national team. Gigi Buffon resigned yesterday, he wanted to do it at the end of Bosnia-Italy and he couldn’t resist for long. An instinctive one, you know. Rino Gattuso is currently in Marbella with his family. He is letting go of his anger and disappointment, but above all he is reflecting. Because he always has a contract until June and the Football Federation has asked him to remain as the ferryman of the two friendlies, the role held by Gigi Di Biagio in March 2018 before Mancini’s arrival. The coach has not yet responded, postponing the decision until after Easter. It won’t be easy.
precedents
—
Buffon also chose Gattuso and from day one he had assumed responsibility for a possible failure. Gigi had said it: if not, I’m leaving. Consequently, one could imagine Gattuso resigning soon. The coach is one of principle: in the past, in Milan, he gave up 11 million just to get his staff a salary. In the national team he earns 800 thousand euros, leaving he would lose 120/150. It is very clear that the issue is anything but economic. In practice, Gattuso should work as coach as if nothing had happened, organize the two friendlies, call up only young players (obviously there won’t be Tonali, Barella and the other big names) and then leave it to his successor. In theory – very much in theory – Gattuso could also play the very last cards of a reconfirmation. Naturally he also knows that it is an almost impossible mission and that the new president, whoever he may be, will present himself with a new name. A fool would say yes. Or someone with an enormous spirit of sacrifice and a strong attachment to Italy until the end. Someone like Gattuso. In exchanging messages with Roma, the coach postponed everything until after Easter. He will decide very soon.
baldini
—
If Gattuso says yes, he will have the bench against Luxembourg and Greece, the two matches in the first week of June. If the answer is no, with immediate resignation, the most logical choice would be to turn to Silvio Baldini, the Under 21 coach who has no official commitments in June and will resume the European qualifiers in September. Di Biagio was also the selector of the Azzurri.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
