Leonardo, from Niterói to managing the Italian national team: the Brazilian who became an Azzurri.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has chosen the Brazilian Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo As an advisor to the Italian national team, he will work alongside technical director Paolo Maldini in preparing the team for the upcoming World Cup.

The nomination came from the president of FIGC, Giovanni MalagoBorn in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, on September 5, 1969, Leonardo obtained Italian citizenship in 2008 and considers Italy his second homeland. He speaks five languages ​​fluently (Portuguese, Italian, French, English, and Spanish) and has a basic understanding of Japanese.

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From Flamengo to Milan

Leonardo debuted for Flamengo at age 17, alongside Zico, and played as a left-back, midfielder, and playmaker, depending on the team's needs. Simultaneously, he enrolled in a mechanical engineering program in Rio de Janeiro, encouraged by his family.

After Flamengo, passed through São PauloHe played for Valencia, Kashima Antlers, and Paris Saint-Germain. In 1997, he joined Milan, where he played 96 league matches, scored 22 goals, and won the Centenary Scudetto in the 1998/1999 season. He returned to Brazil, went back to Milan for a brief period, and ended his career in March 2003.

Manager between Milan and Paris

After retiring from playing, he became an assistant to AC Milan's managing director Adriano Galliani and worked as a scout and market intermediary. He participated in the negotiations that brought Kaká, Pato, and Thiago Silva to Italy.

In 2009 he took over as Milan coach He qualified the team for the Champions League. He left the club at the end of the season and, a few months later, went to Inter Milan, a move that some Rossoneri fans interpreted as a betrayal.

In 2011 he became sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain. He returned to coaching in 2017, at Antalyaspor, and in 2018 he returned to Milan as general director of the technical-sporting area. He resigned in 2019 due to disagreements with the plans of the Elliott fund and, on June 14 of that year, reassumed the sporting directorship of PSG.

Married to Brazilian model Beatriz, Leonardo has three children: Lucas, Julia, and Joana. (With information from Il Giornale)