Quick Reads:

• FIGC officials Paolo Maldini and Leonardo met Guardiola in Barcelona for three days of talks
• Gattuso left the Italy job in April after World Cup qualifying failure
• Guardiola is a free agent for the first time in a decade after leaving Man City
• Mancini and Pirlo remain alternative candidates for the role

Pep Guardiola has become a genuine target for Italy’s national team, with the country’s football federation making a direct approach to lure the newly-available coach out of Manchester and into the Azzurri dugout.

According to Sky in Italy, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sent new technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo to Barcelona, where they spent three days pitching their vision to Guardiola in person. The Pep Guardiola talks form part of a wider shake-up at the FIGC following Italy’s failure to reach a third consecutive World Cup, a collapse that cost Gennaro Gattuso his job back in April.

It’s still unclear whether Guardiola fancies the challenge, but Italian officials are said to be making a serious and concrete push to bring him in. Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo remain in the frame as alternative candidates, though Guardiola’s arrival as a free agent has clearly caught the FIGC’s attention.

Guardiola left Manchester City after a decade in charge, closing out his spell with 20 trophies and a win ratio of 70.8 per cent. Speaking at his farewell press conference, he made clear he wasn’t rushing into another job, saying he needed to “step back” and admitting he no longer had “the energy every day” to chase titles at the same intensity. He also spoke of wanting more time with his father and children.

That said, Guardiola has previously hinted that international football could tempt him where a club job wouldn’t. In a 2024 interview, he suggested a national team role might be the exception to his rule of avoiding another rebuild from scratch — comments that will only encourage Italy’s hopes. He was also close to taking the England job in 2024 before a last-minute change of heart, with Thomas Tuchel eventually appointed and contracted through Euro 2028.

Italy have now gone three major tournaments without qualifying since winning Euro 2020 under Mancini, making this one of the most consequential coaching searches in the federation’s recent history.