Malagò’s Baffling Decision: Italy’s New Delegation Chief Chosen Without Consultation

FolioPitch.com – 11 August 2026 | Malagò didn’t consult Mancini or Ranieri before deciding on Italy’s new delegation chief, a move that has left the football community stunned. FIGC President Giovanni Malagò’s decision to appoint Diana Bianchedi to the role of delegation chief, without consulting head coach Roberto Mancini, technical director Claudio Ranieri, or even Bianchedi herself, has sparked widespread criticism. The appointment, announced in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, has raised questions about the decision-making process within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

Bianchedi, a two-time Olympic gold medalist fencer and vice-President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), will take over as head of the Italy national team delegation. This is a role that was most recently filled by Gianluigi Buffon until earlier this year, when he resigned after Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. However, by Sunday afternoon, the appointment of Bianchedi had already run into difficulties, as she is still active in her position with CONI, and the Italian Olympic Committee has already suggested that taking on both roles would be ‘incompatible’.

To make matters worse for Malagò, it appears that he took the decision to select Bianchedi as Italy’s new delegation chief on his own, without informing any of the important parties until the very last minute. According to the Corriere della Sera, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio was only informed of Malagò’s decision to appoint Bianchedi at around 9 pm on Saturday evening, the night before the announcement went out in La Gazzetta dello Sport. Astonishingly, Bianchedi was only informed herself on Sunday morning, after Malagò’s interview/announcement was published.

Monday’s report adds that Malagò did not consult Italy national team head coach Mancini nor FIGC technical director Ranieri either. This lack of consultation has raised concerns about the leadership style of Malagò and the decision-making process within the FIGC. Bianchedi has not yet signed any contracts with the FIGC, and for now, it remains to be seen whether she will actually take over as delegation chief or not. She and Malagò are both currently on holiday.

The appointment of Bianchedi as Italy’s new delegation chief has sparked a debate about the qualifications and experience required for the role. While Bianchedi is a highly respected figure in Italian sports, her lack of experience in football administration has raised questions about her suitability for the position. The decision to appoint her without consultation has also raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the FIGC.

The situation has left many in the football community wondering about the future of Italian football. Will Malagò’s decision to appoint Bianchedi as delegation chief be a success, or will it lead to further chaos and instability within the Italian national team? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the decision has sparked a heated debate about the leadership style of Malagò and the decision-making process within the FIGC.