Italy's football federation has held talks with both Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola to become the next national team manager, as the four-time world champions reel from a third successive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Paolo Maldini, the former defender who was named the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) technical director this month, confirmed on Thursday that the federation first approached Ancelotti before turning to Guardiola. “We cannot hide the fact that we also spoke to Carlo before talking to Pep,” Maldini said during a news conference. “Frankly, it seemed right to start with those we considered the best in the world.”
“Italy confirm talks with Ancelotti and Guardiola after failing to qualify for third straight World Cup”
Ancelotti, 67, a former teammate of Maldini for both Italy and AC Milan, currently manages Brazil. He signed a contract extension in May that keeps him in charge until the 2030 World Cup, despite Brazil's shock last-16 exit to Norway in this year's tournament. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed he will remain in post.
Guardiola, 55, left Manchester City at the end of last season after a trophy-laden decade that included six Premier League titles and the Champions League. Maldini and the FIGC's special advisor Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona recently to speak with Guardiola about the Italy job. According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Guardiola is seeking an annual salary of €20m (£17m) – double what Italy has been offering. “Honestly, today we can’t give news about what’s happening,” Maldini said when asked about the reported wage demands.
The Azzurri have been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April after the country missed out on a third straight World Cup, following a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. The failure also prompted the resignation of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina. FIGC president Giovanni Malago earlier this week said talks had been held with Guardiola and that “exceptions” could be made for his salary.
Maldini said the federation hopes to appoint a coach by the end of the week, but the priority is getting the right person. “The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want,” he said. “So there’s urgency, but not so much inside us.”
Other names linked with the job include former Italy managers Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, as well as former Azzurri midfielder Andrea Pirlo.