Spanish coach turns down Azzurri after talks with Paolo Maldini as Italy scramble for Plan B

Pep Guardiola has rejected the opportunity to become the next head coach of the Italy national team, according to multiple reports on Friday.

The former Manchester City manager informed Italian Football Federation (FIGC) officials of his decision overnight, ending what many viewed as a dream appointment for the Azzurri. Guardiola is said to have told the federation: “Thank you, I’m honored, but for now, I don’t feel ready.”

How the talks unfolded

Italy’s new technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo held discussions with Guardiola over several days in Barcelona last weekend. The pair presented a long-term vision — an eight-to-ten-year project aimed at rebuilding Italian football from the senior team through the youth ranks after the national side missed a third consecutive World Cup.

FIGC president Giovanni Malagò had publicly confirmed interest in Guardiola earlier this week and indicated the federation was prepared to make financial “exceptions” to land the 55-year-old. However, a significant salary gap remained a major sticking point. Guardiola is understood to have sought around €20 million per year, roughly double the €10 million figure Italy had on the table.

Beyond money, Guardiola’s desire for a break after a decade at Manchester City proved decisive. He left the Premier League club at the end of the 2025/26 season and has repeatedly spoken about prioritising family time and recharging before any return to full-time coaching. The national-team role — even with a support structure designed to give him more time in Barcelona — did not align with his current priorities.

Italy’s coaching crisis

The vacancy arose after Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in early April following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Azzurri have now missed three successive tournaments, plunging the federation into a period of major restructuring under Maldini.

Carlo Ancelotti was approached before Guardiola but declined, preferring to remain with Brazil through the 2030 World Cup.

What’s next for the Azzurri

With Guardiola and Ancelotti both out of the picture, Maldini is moving quickly to Plan B. Andrea Pirlo is widely reported as the leading candidate to be approached next, with Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte also in the conversation.

Italy are eager to have a new head coach in place as soon as possible, ideally ahead of the Nations League fixtures later this year, though Maldini has stressed the importance of getting the right appointment rather than rushing the process.

Guardiola’s rejection marks the end of a short but intense courtship and leaves the four-time world champions still searching for the figure who can restore them to the top of the international game.