Alessandro Florenzi expressed his belief that Paolo Maldini had the potential to significantly change Italian football, had he been afforded the opportunity to fully implement his ideas. Speaking with Repubblica, the former Milan and Roma defender commented on Maldini’s brief tenure as Italy’s technical director and emphasized the need for the football federation to support him more decisively.

With quotes via MilanNews.it, he remarked, “Paolo needs to do things his own way. If he takes on a responsibility, he does it 100 percent. He felt the trust ebbing away, and out of consistency, he took a step back. He talked about Cruyff and how he changed Spanish football. He wanted to do the same in Italy and, for me, he could have managed it.”

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Florenzi was also asked about the possibility of Maldini and Leonardo supporting Andrea Pirlo as national team coach but refrained from confirming it directly. He noted, “De Rossi and Grosso were the other names considered, with similar CVs to Andrea. Any choice would have been criticized. But perhaps they had seen further ahead. If you choose Maldini, you close your eyes and go straight ahead with him.”

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Regarding Claudio Ranieri, who was appointed in Maldini’s place, Florenzi expressed a positive opinion, stating, “A person I’m fond of, like Paolo Maldini and Leonardo. It’s a valid choice. It makes me smile when people say Malago only selected his friends; he did magnificent things at CONI, and he hardly wants what’s bad for Italy.”

Florenzi expressed hope that Ranieri’s influence would extend beyond the senior national team, stating, “I hope Ranieri can rebuild the entire youth football pipeline. He has experience, and once he’s understood where to intervene, he can revolutionize the situation.”

Alessandro Florenzi believes Paolo Maldini could have transformed Italian football had he been given the room to work, and says the federation should have committed to him fully.

With quotes via MilanNews.it, the former Milan and Roma defender discussed his old club captain’s brief spell as Italy’s technical director in an interview with Repubblica, describing the decision to walk away as characteristic.

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“Paolo needs to do things his own way,” Florenzi said. “If he takes on a responsibility, he does it 100 per cent. He felt the trust ebbing away, and out of consistency he took a step back. He talked about Cruyff, about how he changed Spanish football. He wanted to do the same in Italy and, for me, he could have managed it.”

EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Florenzi on summer of Italy changes and Maldini

Asked whether Maldini and Leonardo had wanted Andrea Pirlo as national team coach, Florenzi did not confirm it directly but defended the thinking. “De Rossi and Grosso were the other names in play, with similar CVs to Andrea,” he said. “Any choice would have been criticised. But perhaps they had seen further ahead. If you choose Maldini, you close your eyes and go straight ahead with him.”

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He was warm on Claudio Ranieri, appointed in Maldini’s place. “A person I’m fond of, like Paolo Maldini and Leonardo,” Florenzi said. “It’s a valid choice. It makes me smile when people say Malago only selected his friends, he did magnificent things at CONI, he hardly wants what’s bad for Italy.”

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 25: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on prior to the Serie A match between Torino and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 25, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Florenzi hopes the appointment reaches beyond the senior side. “I hope Ranieri can rebuild the entire youth football pipeline,” he said. “He has experience, and once he’s understood where to intervene he can revolutionise the situation.”