According to Mediaset, Pirlo and Shevchenko have become estranged due to Pirlo becoming an ambassador for Fonbet.

They forged a deep friendship during Milan's Champions League nights, fighting side-by-side with trophies, assists, and embraces, but now this relationship may be torn apart by geopolitical and ethical controversies.

Pirlo's prospects for coaching the Italian national team are no longer just a matter of formations, passing, and tactical choices. The discussion surrounding "coach" Pirlo taking over as the new coach of the Azzurri has now turned into a national controversy, and the coldness between him and Andriy Shevchenko is particularly striking.

The breakdown in relations between the two former teammates is due to Pirlo's collaboration with betting giant Fonbet. Pirlo became an international ambassador for this Russian betting company, and this commercial partnership now carries significant weight as the Italian Football Federation selects a new coach. Shevchenko's relationship with Pirlo is no longer what it once was.

Now there is only silence, and occasional statements sound as harsh as a hammer blow. As a former Ballon d'Or winner and current president of the Ukrainian Football Association, Shevchenko has not hidden his disappointment with Pirlo, as well as Francesco Totti, Marco Materazzi, and other Italian football legends traveling to Russia for events and promotions.

Shevchenko stated directly: "I spoke directly with many of them, and I clearly expressed my opposition and Ukraine's position."

"I condemn what they did. People understand this, but they still made this decision. I have expressed my dissatisfaction, and they know it. They have to bear the consequences themselves; it's their choice."

Then, he delivered the most poignant sentence: "Everything is suspended for now. This hurts me."

These words indicate that the rift between them is very deep. Both sides did communicate, but neither side took a step back. The friendship built at Milanello in the past has thus come to an abrupt end. Pirlo's role as an ambassador in Russia has sparked international public opinion.

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