Berlu Close to Coaching Italy

Beirut – AFP – Former Italy international Andrea Pirlo is close to becoming the new head coach of the Italian national football team, after details of a four-year contract with an annual salary of 1.5 million euros were agreed upon, according to local reports.

Italian media appeared confident that the deal with Pirlo had been finalized. He was the third choice, behind Spain’s Pep Guardiola and Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti, who coaches Brazil.

However, Guardiola, who met recently with the national team’s new sporting director Paolo Maldini and his special advisor, the Brazilian Leonardo, declined the role because he wishes to focus on his family after spending 10 years with English club Manchester City. Meanwhile, efforts to sign Ancelotti failed, as he recently signed a new contract with the “Samba” team, according to reports.

Pirlo, 47, is still under contract with UAE club United Arab Emirates FC, and therefore must first terminate that agreement by mutual consent.