Giovanni Malagò, President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), has confirmed ongoing talks with Pep Guardiola to convince him to take charge of the Italian national team, expressing readiness to grant a special financial exception to secure the former Manchester City boss.
The statement follows a high-profile meeting in Barcelona between Italy’s technical director Paolo Maldini, his advisor Leonardo, and Guardiola. The duo presented the manager with a project aimed at rebuilding Gli Azzurri after failing to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.
Malagò acknowledged the federation’s budget constraints and the necessity to tighten belts in the short to medium term. However, he emphasized that a manager of Guardiola’s stature warrants extraordinary financial effort.
“There are budgetary aspects to consider, and we must cut costs in the coming period. However, there are exceptions, and the biggest name right now—Pep Guardiola—could be one of them,” stated the FIGC President.
Maldini Leads Talks, But Guardiola’s Sabbatical Remains the Main Obstacle
While admitting that an agreement is far from finalized, Malagò defended the decision to enter negotiations: “It is not guaranteed that these talks will yield a positive outcome, but I believe it was right and important to open the dialogue and keep it alive.”
Guardiola is currently a free agent after concluding a historic 10-year tenure with Manchester City, where he secured 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy. His illustrious managerial career also includes a treble-winning era at Barcelona and three consecutive Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
However, the main hurdle facing the FIGC is Guardiola’s stated desire to take a sabbatical year and spend more time with his family. Should negotiations fall through, Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo remain secondary options on Italy’s shortlist.
