Roberto Mancini wants Andrea Pirlo to become his Italy assistant and jokes that he could do with the former midfielder's quality on the pitch as well.

Pirlo retired from playing late last year after ending his stint with American side New York City.

He has expressed a desire to go into coaching, with reports yesterday that a deal was all but done to see him join Mancini's Azzurri backroom team.

And during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nazionale boss confirmed it would be 'good' to have Pirlo on board.

Roberto Mancini wants Andrea Pirlo to become his Italy assistant and jokes that he could do with the former midfielder's quality on the pitch as well.

Pirlo retired from playing late last year after ending his stint with American side New York City.

He has expressed a desire to go into coaching, with reports yesterday that a deal was all but done to see him join Mancini's Azzurri backroom team.

And during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nazionale boss confirmed it would be 'good' to have Pirlo on board.

"Let's wait until it's official. However, Andrea wants to be a Coach, so this is the right path to take," Mancini commented.

"It would be good start for him. But I could do with somebody of his quality on the pitch!

"Jokes aside, we were waiting, but it would be good to have someone like him with us."

Mancini's brief tenure so far has seen the re-introduction of Mario Balotelli into his plans.

And the former Manchester City, Inter and Galatasaray Coach believes the 27-year-old is the 'complete centre-forward.'

"That's also for him to decide. Mario has great potential and can be decisive, like when he took Italy to the final of Euro 2012.

"He is a complete centre-forward. He has physical strength, technique, shooting and heading ability."

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