Buffon turns down Italy return as FIGC rebuild plans hit setback

Gianluigi Buffon has rejected an offer to rejoin the Italy set-up in a senior backroom role, dealing a significant blow to the Italian Football Federation’s plans to rebuild the national team during one of the bleakest periods in its history.

Paolo Maldini, the technical director of the FIGC, contacted Buffon directly with a proposal to take on an operational position within the “Club Italia” project – the structure that oversees all Italian national teams – according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Maldini was understood to be banking on Buffon’s immense popularity and experience to help lead a new era after Italy’s latest World Cup qualifying failure, which ended with a play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Maldini’s pitch to Italy’s record appearance-maker

Buffon, 46, is the most-capped player in Italy’s history and the last Azzurri goalkeeper to lift the World Cup, having won the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Maldini saw those credentials, along with Buffon’s close knowledge of the current generation of players, as key assets in a plan to stabilise and relaunch the national side following what has been described as a historic low.

The offer would have given Buffon a hands-on role inside Club Italia, placing him at the heart of decision-making around the senior team and the wider national structure.

Previous role with the Azzurri

Buffon is no stranger to the corridors of power at Coverciano, having previously served as team coordinator for the Italy national side.

He resigned from that position in March, stepping down alongside head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.

That exit marked the latest chapter in a prolonged crisis for the Azzurri, who have repeatedly stumbled in qualification despite their status as four-time world champions.

‘Not the right time’ for a comeback

Despite examining Maldini’s proposal carefully, Buffon has decided not to return to the national team structure for now.

He informed Maldini that the timing was “not appropriate” for a comeback, signalling his preference to remain away from football following his departure in April.

Buffon is currently focusing on his family life and completing his studies as he prepares for a future career in football administration, but he does not intend to accelerate that transition by re-entering the high-pressure environment around the Azzurri.

His refusal leaves Maldini and the FIGC searching for alternative figures to front their reconstruction project at a moment when the federation had hoped a club and national icon could help restore credibility, unity and belief around the Italy team.