Marcello Lippi has accused Carlo Tavecchio of having “a short memory” over Giampiero Ventura but reveals he also talked to two others about the Italy job.
Tavecchio claimed Ventura was Lippi’s appointment at his farewell Press conference on Monday, but the China boss – who guided the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006 – contests he merely suggested the 68-year-old, as well as the profiles of Vincenzo Montella and Gian Piero Gasperini.
Marcello Lippi has accused Carlo Tavecchio of having “a short memory” over Giampiero Ventura but reveals he also talked to two others about the Italy job.
Tavecchio claimed Ventura was Lippi’s appointment at his farewell Press conference on Monday, but the China boss – who guided the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006 – contests he merely suggested the 68-year-old, as well as the profiles of Vincenzo Montella and Gian Piero Gasperini.
“I came back from China for two days, I had other things to think about,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“I was very sorry [for the World Cup failure], like all Italians, but above all for seeing Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Barzagli bow out the way they did.
“Right now, all that’s been talked about is Marcello Lippi. Yesterday it was Malago and today it was Tavecchio. It seems to me that he has a short memory.
“What Malago said last night was all true, except for one thing: I didn’t choose the Coach.
“I had dinner with Malago and Tavecchio, and I was offered to become the national team’s technical director.
“I started, not officially, to talk to some Coaches. I talked to three people, Ventura, Montella and Gasperini. No-one else.
“After that, I went to the Federation and reported back my findings, listing the pros and cons of each one, but I said, ‘the President will choose the Coach.’
“Tavecchio then replied, ‘I’d choose Ventura due to his age and wisdom.’ I didn’t pick the Coach, it’s not true.
“I was technical director for a month, until the law regarding agents passed. Now I’m with China and I’m doing my job. I haven’t heard from anyone.”