Italy have intensified their efforts to appoint Pep Guardiola as the next head coach of the national team despite the financial and logistical challenges surrounding the move.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has made the appointment a priority after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup. New technical director Paolo Maldini and presidential adviser Leonardo have led the search for a coach capable of rebuilding the national team and restoring its status among Europe’s elite.
Maldini and Leonardo travelled to Barcelona to present Italy’s long-term project directly to Guardiola. The discussions focused on the federation’s vision for the future, but the Manchester City manager reportedly expressed reservations because he wants to spend more time with his family after years of coaching at the highest level. His contractual ties to Manchester City and the City Football Group also complicate any potential agreement.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò has nevertheless confirmed that the federation is ready to make exceptional concessions to convince Guardiola. He admitted that Italy could grant special arrangements, including greater flexibility over where the coach lives and works, while stressing that negotiations remain open. Malagò also insisted that the federation continues to evaluate other candidates, but he acknowledged that Guardiola remains at the center of Italy’s ambitious rebuilding project.
