Italy President Confirms Guardiola Talks as England Face Decision on Next Manager

Pep Guardiola could be heading to international management sooner than expected, with the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirming that negotiations have taken place with the former Manchester City coach. Giovanni Malago told Cronache di spogliatoio that “exceptions” can be made to accommodate Guardiola’s salary, admitting the 55-year-old is a name under serious consideration. Guardiola left City at the end of last season after ten years in charge and has since stated he needs a break, but the prospect of leading Italy appears to have tempted him back into the dugout. Italy are searching for a new head coach after Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April following the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Legendary former defender Paolo Maldini, now FIGC technical director, and his advisor Leonardo are understood to have traveled to Barcelona recently for face-to-face talks with Guardiola. Malago confirmed those conversations but stopped short of naming Guardiola as the only candidate. “Absolutely not,” he said when asked if the front-runners were limited to Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini. “We think about a certain profile and certainly these names fall into that category.” Guardiola has privately expressed a desire to manage England in the future, but with Thomas Tuchel expected to remain in charge despite England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, the Italy job may prove more immediately available. Guardiola admitted after leaving City that he was “so tired,” but the chance to revive a fallen giant like Italy could be enough to lure him back sooner than planned.