Luigi Di Biagio insists he did not fail Italy’s Under-21 team after stepping down. “If Romania had won yesterday, you’d have all told me that I was the best...”

Di Biagio announced his resignation at a Press conference on Tuesday morning, but the CT also took the opportunity to defend his record.

“We must separate our results of the last few years from what happened at this European Championship,” he explained.

Luigi Di Biagio has officially resigned as CT of Italy’s Under-21 team after six years in the post.

Italy failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship, despite being many people’s tip to win the competition.

Consequently, De Biagio held a Press conference on Tuesday morning to announce he had stepped down.

Leeds United are reportedly still in for Gianluigi Buffon, who has also received offers from Porto and Fluminense.

The Yorkshire Evening Post rubbished links between Leeds and Buffon on Monday, but Gazzetta dello Sport maintains they have made the goalkeeper a proposal.

However, the newspaper notes Porto’s offer is currently ‘most welcome’ to the 41-year-old as it includes Champions League football next season.

Luigi Di Biagio is expected to hold a Press conference on Tuesday to announce his resignation as CT of Italy’s Under-21 team.

Italy failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship, despite being many people’s tip to win the competition.

According to Rai Sport and Tuttomercatoweb, Di Biagio will speak at a Press conference tomorrow morning, where he will confirm his exit.

Italy are out of the European Under-21 Championship after France and Romania drew 0-0 in their final group game on Monday.

Italy finished Group A on six points, behind Spain in their three-way record on goal difference with Poland.

It meant their only chance of reaching the semi-finals was to be the best runners-up out of the three pools.

However, France and Romania – both aware that they would go through with a draw – predictably played out a damp squib.

Speculation linking former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with Leeds United has been described as ‘well wide of the mark’.

Reports over the weekend – including from the respected Corriere della Sera – claimed it was fast becoming a two-horse race between Leeds and Porto for Buffon’s signature.

Italy CT Roberto Mancini could leave Moise Kean and Nicolo Zaniolo out of his squad for September’s Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Kean and Zaniolo were omitted from Italy’s 3-1 victory over Belgium at the U21 Euros on Saturday for lateness.

However, Gazzetta dello Sport warns they have previous, as seen by Mancini’s decision not to field the pair against Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina earlier in the month.

Italy are still in the running for a European Under-21 Championship semi-final place, but it all depends on France-Romania tomorrow.

The Azzurrini finished on six points, behind Spain in their three-way record on goal difference with Poland.

It means their only chance of reaching the semi-final is to be the best runners-up out of the three groups.

Gigi Di Biagio explained his decision to drop Moise Kean for disciplinary reasons and defended his work in six years with the Under-21 Italy squad.

They were among the favourites to win the European Championship as the host nation, but could well be out in the group stage despite a 3-1 win over Belgium.