Guardiola in shock talks with Italy over vacant national team job – reports

Pep Guardiola has held talks with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over becoming the country’s next national team head coach, according to reports in Italy and the UK. Sky in Italy say senior figures from the federation travelled to Barcelona to meet the former Manchester City manager, just months after his decade-long reign at the Etihad Stadium came to an end.

The reported approach comes as Italy search for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who left the role in April after the Azzurri were beaten by Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in a European play-off, condemning them to miss a third successive World Cup.

Maldini leads the charm offensive

Reports indicate that Paolo Maldini, now the FIGC’s technical director, and his advisor Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona attempting to persuade Guardiola to take the job. Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo, both former Italy internationals, are said to be among the other candidates under consideration.

Guardiola, 55, would become only the second non-Italian to take charge of the national side, and the first since the 1960s, should he accept. He is a fluent Italian speaker and has previous experience of Serie A as a player, turning out for Roma and across two spells with Brescia between 2001 and 2003.

The former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City boss left City in the summer following a hugely successful ten-year spell in which he won multiple league titles across three different countries. He has not managed since, fuelling speculation over where he might resurface.

Would England come calling?

The prospect of Guardiola returning to management has also reignited debate in England, where Thomas Tuchel has faced criticism despite leading the Three Lions to third place at the World Cup – their best finish since 1966. Tuchel’s defensive substitutions in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina drew scrutiny, though the German remains contracted to the Football Association until Euro 2028 after signing an extension in February.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney suggested the FA could be tempted to move for Guardiola if he became available. “I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him,” Rooney said.

Italy’s failure to qualify for successive World Cups has intensified pressure on the FIGC to make a statement appointment, having also lost to England in the Euro 2020 final on penalties. Whether Guardiola, who has previously spoken of his admiration for Italian football culture, is tempted by an international post remains to be seen.

Read more: Tuchel confirms he will stay on as England boss until Euro 2028 despite Argentina exit

Sources

• FourFourTwo
• BBC Sport

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.