Italian media questions Pirlo's possibility of leading the Azzurri: Is this a joke?

Pirlo has become the top candidate for the new coach of the Italian national team under the recommendation of technical director Paolo Maldini, but several mainstream Italian media are skeptical about this. Corriere della Sera sarcastically asked: "Is this a joke?"

After the Italian Football Federation confirmed Maldini's appointment as the new technical director last weekend, the search for a new national team coach began.

Before Maldini's appointment, Mancini and Conte were the two most popular candidates for the Italian coaching position, but now their competitiveness has declined, with Conte's momentum weakening particularly significantly.

Pirlo, who won the 2006 World Cup with the team, is currently coaching Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC in the UAE Pro League. He previously coached Juventus and Sampdoria in Italy.

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