Guardiola increasingly likely to reject Italy: a break from football is currently more important than FIGC's major project
Pep Guardiola is unlikely to accept the offer to become the new head coach of the Italian national football team, although the Italian Football Federation is trying to persuade one of the most successful coaches in modern football to immediately take charge of an ambitious rebuilding project. As of July 23, 2026, his final decision had not been announced, but several sources close to the talks say that, after leaving Manchester City, the Spaniard still intends to remain outside day-to-day coaching for at least a year. ESPN reported that contacts with FIGC were brief and that Guardiola's desire for a break remains the main obstacle to an agreement, while Corriere dello Sport writes that he has not formally rejected the offer but is nowhere near accepting it. The Italian federation is therefore still awaiting an official response, aware that the financial terms are not the only, and perhaps not even the most important, issue. At this point, the decisive factors appear to be Guardiola's personal decision, his need for rest and his assessment of whether, only a few weeks after the end of a ten-year cycle in Manchester, he wants to expose himself once again to the pressure of a major project.
The possibility of his arrival was not merely a media idea without any real foundation. FIGC president Giovanni Malagò confirmed that the federation had opened talks with Guardiola and admitted that it would be prepared to make a financial exception for a name of such stature. Sky Sport Italia reported that new technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo spoke with Guardiola in Barcelona over the weekend, where they presented him with a plan that goes beyond the traditional role of first-team head coach. Under that concept, Guardiola would become the central technical figure in a broader renewal of Italy's national-team system, from the senior side to the development of youth categories and the alignment of the footballing philosophy. Such an offer explains why FIGC has not yet closed the door, even though the signals from Guardiola's camp are becoming increasingly less encouraging.
Maldini and Leonardo presented a project extending beyond a single national team
The arrival of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo at the top of the federation's sporting department marked the beginning of a new phase after yet another Italian failure in World Cup qualifying. On July 11, FIGC announced that Maldini would assume the role of technical director and president of Club Italia, while Leonardo would act as his adviser. Malagò described their appointment as a four-year commitment aimed at the European Championship and the 2030 World Cup, demonstrating that the selection of a new head coach is not being viewed merely as a short-term filling of a vacant position. Guardiola fits into such a framework because of his experience in building systems of play, his influence on player development and his ability to change the way an entire football organization thinks. That is precisely why the meeting in Barcelona carried more weight than an ordinary negotiation over a contract and salary.
Sky Sport relayed Malagò's statement that it was right to open a dialogue with Guardiola and keep it active, although there is no guarantee that the negotiations will end in an agreement. At the same time, the federation president stressed that considering a financial exception does not mean that the choice has already been made or that the other candidates are being disregarded. This is an important distinction because Guardiola's salary during his time at Manchester City was far above the usual amounts football federations allocate to national-team coaches. According to Italian and international reports, FIGC was prepared to adjust its budget to create room for an exceptional solution, but even such a move cannot solve the problem if the coach does not wish to resume his career immediately. From the outset, the negotiations were therefore conducted between Italy's institutional urgency and Guardiola's clearly expressed need to distance himself from the rhythm of elite football.
Maldini and Leonardo also had a personal argument that cannot be reduced to money. Guardiola knows Italian football well because he played for Brescia and Roma at the beginning of the century, and he has publicly spoken several times about the influence of Italian tactical culture on his own development. His relationship with Maldini and his respect for one of the greatest figures in Italian football may have helped persuade him to listen to the offer at all. However, a willingness to talk does not also mean a willingness to sign a contract. According to the available information, the meeting allowed FIGC to present the project and determine whether there was room for further negotiations, but it did not lead to an agreement in principle.
A break after ten years in Manchester remains Guardiola's priority
The greatest obstacle to the Italian plan is not the sporting value of the project but the moment at which the offer arrived. On May 22, 2026, Manchester City officially announced that Guardiola would leave the club after ten years, and the coach himself explained that, after almost two decades of uninterrupted work at the highest level, he needed some distance. In interviews following the announcement of his departure, he said that he would not coach for some time, that he needed to step away and rediscover his energy. He recalled that, apart from a short break between Barcelona and Bayern, he had worked almost continuously since the beginning of his coaching career under the pressure of matches every three days, title races and expectations of winning the biggest trophies. His words did not sound like tactical bargaining with future employers, but like a firm personal decision.
In mid-July, Guardiola reiterated that he did not currently miss being on the touchline and that he was trying to understand what life outside the daily coaching rhythm would look like. Such a statement further reduced the possibility of a rapid return, although he did not close the door to a new job forever. Managing a national team involves fewer matches and a different calendar from club football, but in Italy's case it would not mean a peaceful transition into an easier role. The new head coach would simultaneously have to stabilize the team, respond to public dissatisfaction, prepare for the September start of the Nations League and participate in a broader institutional rebuilding process. For a coach who left precisely because he felt his energy declining, such a task could be contrary to the purpose of the announced break.
Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 and, over ten seasons, created a period the club described as the most successful in its history. According to Manchester City's official figures, he won 20 trophies, including six English league titles and the first Champions League trophy in the club's history. His team won the treble in the 2022/23 season and then became the first club in the history of the English championship to win four consecutive titles. Following his departure, City decided to name the expanded north stand at the Etihad Stadium the Pep Guardiola Stand, further emphasizing the importance of the completed cycle. After such a long and emotionally demanding period, it is logical that the coach does not want to make another major decision merely because a prestigious position has become available.
Italy does not have much time to wait
For FIGC, the situation is significantly different because the national team is entering a new season without a permanent head coach and after missing a third consecutive World Cup. Italy last appeared at the global tournament in 2014, and in the spring of 2026 it was eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the final stage of the European play-offs. Gennaro Gattuso subsequently left his position by mutual termination of his contract, while the poor results and changes in the federation's leadership opened a debate about the deeper problems of Italian football. According to the FIFA ranking published on July 20, Italy dropped to 15th place, three positions lower than in the previous edition. That decline is not disastrous in itself, but it symbolizes the loss of continuity of a national team that has won four world titles and that was still European champion in 2021.
The new coaching staff will not have a long period for calm preparation. UEFA confirmed that Italy will open the new Nations League season against Belgium at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on September 25, 2026, with the league phase lasting until November. This means that the head coach must be appointed early enough to assess the squad, speak with key players, establish basic tactical requirements and announce the first squad list. Every additional delay while waiting for Guardiola reduces the room for an alternative solution, especially if FIGC wants to avoid the impression that a second candidate was accepted only after a failed attempt to secure a major international name. Malagò is therefore trying to keep the dialogue open while simultaneously emphasizing that the selection is not limited to one person.
That is precisely where the greatest risk in Italy's strategy lies. Waiting makes sense for as long as there is a realistic possibility that Guardiola will change his decision, but it can become harmful if it continues without clear signals. After missing three World Cups, the national team needs authority and a long-term plan, but it also needs operational certainty before its first competitive matches. FIGC must assess how long it can allow Maldini and Leonardo to continue trying to persuade Guardiola without losing other coaches in the process. According to the information available so far, a decision is expected shortly, although the federation has not announced a precise date for the appointment.
Mancini and Pirlo remain among the possible solutions
If Guardiola confirms what his latest public statements suggest and rejects the offer, Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo will remain among the most frequently mentioned candidates. Mancini has a strong results-based argument because he took charge of Italy in 2018, rebuilt the team after it failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia and led it to the European title in 2021. However, his previous tenure ended with an unexpected departure in August 2023, meaning that a return would require a political and sporting agreement on new powers, relations within the federation and the direction of the national team's development. His advantage is his knowledge of the players, the pressure and the institutional environment, while opponents of his return could argue that the new cycle requires completely different energy. Malagò confirmed that Mancini belongs to the group of profiles under discussion, but he did not present him as the automatic first choice.
Pirlo represents a different possibility, linked to a younger coaching generation and the idea of modernizing the style of play. As a player, he was one of the symbols of the Italian national team that won the World Cup in 2006, and his footballing philosophy is based on possession, technical quality and organized build-up from defence. His coaching experience, however, is significantly more limited than Guardiola's or Mancini's, which would make the appointment a greater risk during a period of increased pressure. On the other hand, cooperation with Maldini and Leonardo could provide him with a stronger sporting structure than he had in some of his previous jobs. FIGC is also publicly leaving open the possibility of expanding the shortlist, so Mancini and Pirlo are not the only alternatives.
The choice between an experienced returning coach, a younger Italian coach and a major foreign name reflects a broader dilemma about what the national team actually needs. Guardiola would bring global authority, a clear methodology and the ability to attract the attention of the entire football world, but he would also require the system to adapt to his ideas and demand an exceptional financial effort. Mancini would offer proven knowledge of the national-team environment, while Pirlo would represent an investment in longer-term development. The decision will therefore not merely answer the question of who is the best coach available, but also what type of project FIGC wants to build through 2030.
A rejection would not mean the end of Guardiola's national-team ambition
A possible rejection of Italy would not necessarily mean that Guardiola does not want to manage a national team at a later stage of his career. Over the years, he has said that the prospect of participating in a major international tournament appeals to him, but the circumstances following his departure from Manchester City indicate that he is not yet ready to begin a new cycle immediately. A year off would allow him to consider, without pressure, offers that could emerge after the next international competitions or changes on club benches. For Italy, however, such a timeframe is difficult to accept because it needs a head coach now, not in the summer of 2027. FIGC is therefore negotiating not only with Guardiola as a coach, but also with his personal calendar, which currently does not correspond with the federation's needs.
Until an official response arrives, the Italian public will remain caught between the hope of one of the most spectacular appointments in the national team's history and a reality that increasingly points toward rejection. Malagò, Maldini and Leonardo can offer broad authority, a long-term project and financial flexibility, but they cannot erase the reasons why Guardiola left Manchester City. His decision to rest did not arise after the talks with FIGC, but was announced as early as May and repeated in July. It therefore currently seems more likely that Italy will soon have to activate another solution, while Guardiola will spend at least one season observing football away from the coaching bench. The final confirmation nevertheless remains his to make, and until the official response is announced, the federation does not wish to declare the negotiations over.
Sources:
- ESPN – current information about FIGC's contacts with Guardiola and his intention to take a break (link)
- Sky Sport Italia – report on the meeting in Barcelona, FIGC's project and statements by Giovanni Malagò (link)
- FIGC – official announcement of Paolo Maldini's appointment as technical director and Leonardo's role (link)
- Manchester City – official announcement of Guardiola's departure after ten years and the winning of 20 trophies (link)
- The Guardian – Guardiola's statements about the need for rest following his departure from Manchester City (link)
- Corriere dello Sport – information about a possible one-year break and the status of negotiations with Italy (link)
- FIFA – official ranking in which Italy occupied 15th place on July 20, 2026 (link)
- UEFA – official Nations League schedule and Italy's match against Belgium on September 25, 2026 (link)
- Football Italia – confirmation of Gennaro Gattuso's departure by mutual agreement after the failure in World Cup qualifying (link)