Buffon reportedly vetoed Jose Mourinho as Italy coach!
Former Italy goalkeeper and current Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon allegedly played a pivotal role in preventing José Mourinho from becoming the next Azzurri coach. Despite Adidas's willingness to help cover his salary, Buffon reportedly felt the national team needed a different kind of leader, favoring an "absolute Italy legend" to guide them towards the 2026 World Cup.
According to La Repubblica, José Mourinho was a strong contender to take over as the new head coach of the Italian national team. The report suggests that Adidas, the sponsor for both Italy and Mourinho, was even prepared to contribute to the "Special One's" salary. However, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) faced significant hurdles in securing his appointment.
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The first obstacle was Fenerbahçe's reported refusal to release Mourinho without a transfer fee. More crucially, Italy's Delegation Chief, Gigi Buffon, reportedly opposed the potential hiring of the former Roma and Inter coach.
Sources indicate that the legendary Azzurri goalkeeper was convinced Italy needed a different kind of figure, an absolute Italy legend, to replace Luciano Spalletti and boost the team's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Buffon even threatened to resign if Mancini were brought back
Previous reports had even suggested that Buffon threatened to resign if Roberto Mancini were brought back as coach. However, Buffon clarified his stance at Gennaro Gattuso's unveiling press conference on Thursday. He stated, "My contract ends on June 30 every year, so resignations were never an issue. We chose Rino in consultation with the President and the other professionals we spoke to. I don’t think there are good or bad coaches at this level, but rather coaches who are functional to what the team needs. It was a good moment for Rino to become the national team coach."
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Buffon concluded by emphasizing the responsibility of such decisions: "These are responsibilities that one tasks. Time will tell if it’s right or not. If the decision was not right, you take a step back." His comments underscore the strategic thinking behind the coaching decision, hinting at a specific vision for the national team's future that, for now, did not include Mourinho.
