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Pep Guardiola has turned down the opportunity to become Italy’s next national team head coach, forcing the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to consider alternative candidates as it continues its search for a successor.
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sky Sport Italia and other Italian media, the Manchester City legend informed the FIGC that he would not take up the role despite holding positive discussions with the federation’s newly appointed technical director, Paolo Maldini.
Maldini, accompanied by former Brazil international Leonardo, travelled to Barcelona last weekend to meet Guardiola as part of the federation’s ambitious plan to appoint one of football’s most respected coaches to lead the Azzurri into a new era.
Speaking during the Lega Serie A assembly on Thursday, Maldini admitted that Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were among the federation’s preferred candidates.
“The ideal would be to have the coach by the end of this week, but perhaps even more ideal would be to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said.
“We cannot deny that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep, and it felt only right to start with those we considered to be the best in the world. So we needed to get a general idea of their availability.”
Guardiola’s possible appointment had always appeared difficult, with reports suggesting the Spaniard sought an annual salary of around €20 million well beyond the financial limits the FIGC was prepared to offer, despite its willingness to make exceptions for elite coaches.
Beyond financial considerations, Guardiola is also believed to have reservations about returning immediately to management after completing a decade at Manchester City. Reports indicate the 55-year-old wants to spend more time with his family before taking on another demanding coaching role.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Guardiola informed the Italian delegation late on Thursday that, although he seriously considered the proposal, the national team project was not the right fit at this stage of his career.
The report added that Guardiola prefers coaching environments where he can work closely with players on a daily basis, rather than the periodic contact associated with international football, where managers rely heavily on scouts, technical staff and player monitoring between international windows.
Italy’s long-term rebuilding strategy also reportedly influenced Guardiola’s decision. Maldini and Leonardo have outlined an eight to ten-year project aimed at restoring the Azzurri to the summit of world football, a timeline believed to be inconsistent with Guardiola’s immediate career ambitions.
With Guardiola now out of contention, the FIGC has shifted its focus to alternative candidates. Former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo has emerged as the leading option as Maldini and Leonardo continue efforts to appoint a new head coach ahead of the next phase of Italy’s rebuilding programme.
