Italy's search for a new manager hit a wild turning point when technical director Paolo Maldini revealed that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) actually went after Carlo Ancelotti before holding talks with Pep Guardiola.
The Azzurri are at rock bottom. Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. That's twelve long years without seeing the four-time world champions on football's biggest stage. It makes total sense that FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and Maldini swung for the absolute fences. If you're going to fix a deep structural disaster, you start with the two best tacticians modern football has ever seen.
The Dream Candidate Was Already Taken
Before Maldini and advisor Leonardo boarded a plane to Barcelona to meet Guardiola, they made a phone call to Ancelotti. Maldini made no secret of it: "We cannot hide the fact that we also spoke to Carlo before talking to Pep. Frankly, it seemed right to start with those we considered the best in the world."
Ancelotti checks every single box for Italy. He won four Champions League titles across his club career, understands the exact pressures of Italian football, and played alongside Maldini at AC Milan and for the national team.
There was just one giant hurdle—Ancelotti was under contract with Brazil. Despite a frustrating last-16 exit to Norway at the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation double-downed on their man. Ancelotti signed a contract extension keeping him in South America through the 2030 World Cup. He wasn't walking away from Brazil, leaving Maldini to move to plan B.
The Guardiola Reality Check
That plan B was Pep Guardiola, who suddenly became a free agent this summer after ending his decade-long dynasty at Manchester City.
On paper, Pep taking over Italy sounds like a dream match. He played in Serie A with Brescia and Roma, speaks fluent Italian, and has repeatedly expressed an itch to manage an international side before retiring. Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Catalonia putting together a package to convince him.
Yet, cold financial reality set in fast:
- Salary expectations: Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate Guardiola's team requested roughly €20 million (£17 million) per year.
- Federation budget: The FIGC's maximum budget sits at about half that amount.
- Personal logistics: Guardiola wants to prioritize family time in Barcelona after ten exhausting years in the Premier League.
Malagò hinted that "exceptions" could be made for Pep's wage packet, but doubling the federation's budget for a single manager creates immediate friction across Italian sports governance.
Why Neither Manager Solves Italy's Core Problem
Shooting for elite names like Ancelotti or Guardiola shows ambition, but it also highlights how desperate the FIGC has become. Italy's collapse isn't down to a lack of tactical genius on the touchline; it's a structural breakdown in talent development.
When Roberto Mancini won Euro 2020, it looked like a rebirth. Then came the World Cup playoff losses. Gattuso couldn't fix it. Throwing €20 million at Guardiola won't instantly produce world-class goalscorers or rebuild academies.
What Happens Next for the Azzurri
Maldini stressed that while the federation wants to appoint a manager quickly, getting the right fit matters way more than rushing. With Ancelotti staying in Brazil and Guardiola's price tag proving a massive hurdle, the FIGC is turning to familiar domestic names:
- Antonio Conte: Free to take on a project and proven at international level after his 2016 run with Italy.
- Roberto Mancini: A potential shock return despite his previous departure.
- Andrea Pirlo: A high-risk, high-reward option who fits the federation's desire for a modern, respected figurehead.
If Italy wants to avoid missing out on a fourth consecutive World Cup, the FIGC needs to stop chasing magic wands and sign a manager willing to get their hands dirty rebuilding the national team from the ground up.
