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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. “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.” 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.” 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.” 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.”