* UniCredit had been discussing possible MPS deal
* Treasury official says Orcel ‘well regarded’ in Rome (Adds Santander, Orcel lawyer on lawsuit)
MILAN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - UniCredit is set to name Andrea Orcel as chief executive, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, putting one of Europe’s best-known dealmakers at the helm just as the coronavirus crisis is pushing banks to merge.
Orcel’s nomination would mark a return to the top tier of finance for the Italian, who left his senior investment banking role at UBS in 2018 to run Santander, only for the Spanish bank to rescind the offer in a row over pay.