FIGC holds three-day Guardiola talks over Italy job
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- The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sent new technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo to Barcelona to hold three days of talks with Pep Guardiola about taking over as Italy head coach, with Mancini and Pirlo also in the frame
- Gennaro Gattuso departed the Italy role in April after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, prompting a FIGC shake-up that brought in Maldini and Leonardo
- Pep Guardiola is a free agent for the first time in a decade after ending his 10-year Manchester City spell, where he won 20 trophies and posted a 70.8 percent win ratio
- Guardiola told chef Dani Garcia in 2024 he would not take another club job but left the door open for international work: "Maybe a national team, but that's different"
- Guardiola had a verbal agreement with the FA in 2024 to succeed Gareth Southgate as England boss before changing his mind; Thomas Tuchel was eventually appointed on a contract running through Euro 2028
Why it matters: Italy have missed three straight major tournaments since their Euro 2020 win under Mancini, and landing Guardiola — who has never managed a national team — would represent a dramatic reputational swing for a federation in freefall. The FIGC is betting that Maldini and Leonardo's three-day pitch can overcome Guardiola's stated desire to rest, with the tantalising carrot of becoming the first foreign manager to win a World Cup.
