Pep Guardiola’s potential appointment as Italy head coach would require a rare “financial exception” to the federation’s budget, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has admitted – while warning there is still no guarantee a deal will be done.
Giovanni Malago confirmed that the salary being discussed for the former Manchester City manager is far beyond Italy’s usual pay framework, as the FIGC intensifies efforts to convince him to lead a new era for the Azzurri.
His comments come after widespread reports in the last 48 hours that Italy’s technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo travelled to Barcelona at the weekend for a series of in‐depth talks with Guardiola about the national team project.
Financial ‘stretch’ for Guardiola
For weeks, the cost of hiring Guardiola has been viewed as the biggest obstacle to any agreement. But Malago, speaking to Football Italia, suggested the FIGC is now willing to push its limits for the Spaniard.
“There are financial aspects that obviously must be taken into consideration, and saying that we would have to stretch ourselves financially to cover them would be an understatement,” he said.
The FIGC president stressed that Guardiola’s profile places him in a unique category.
“There are some exceptions that can be made, and these are the exceptions concerning the name that is causing all this discussion right now: Pep Guardiola. I don’t need to explain the obvious reasons that make him an exception, but this does not mean there are any guarantees the matter will be completed.”
Malago’s intervention marks the clearest signal yet that the federation is prepared to break with its traditional salary structures to attract one of the most successful coaches of the modern era.
Maldini and Leonardo mission seen as clear signal
The reported trip by Maldini and Leonardo to meet Guardiola personally in Barcelona has been interpreted in Italy as a strong indication of the direction of the FIGC’s restructuring strategy.
Observers see their direct involvement as underlining how seriously the federation is pursuing the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager to front a revamped Azzurri project.
Malago endorsed the decision to open a direct channel with Guardiola.
“I think it was right and extremely important to open a dialogue and keep it alive,” he said, suggesting that ongoing talks are part of a broader rethink of the national team’s football identity and leadership.
The new technical leadership is said to be intent on building a long‐term project around a coach whose philosophy can modernise Italy’s style of play while restoring its competitive edge on the international stage.
Conte not contacted as FIGC eyes ‘more modern’ profile
Malago also addressed questions over why former Italy and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has not been approached about returning to the national team role.
He rejected any suggestion that established Italian candidates were being disrespected, but hinted the FIGC is looking for a coach with a different footballing outlook.
“The issue does not involve any lack of respect for others, as discussions have indeed been held with other names,” Malago explained. “We may move towards an option that belongs to a more modern school of thought, and this is a matter of personal judgement.”
That remark is likely to be interpreted as further evidence of a shift away from more traditional Italian coaching profiles towards tacticians associated with more progressive, possession-based football – a hallmark of Guardiola’s career.
Shortlist ‘not limited’ to Guardiola, Pirlo and Mancini
Reports in Italy have suggested the shortlist for the job has narrowed to Guardiola, former Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo and ex-Azzurri and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
Malago, however, insisted the field is wider than that.
“Of course not, we are thinking about certain characteristics for the coach, and these names definitely fall within this category,” he said when asked if the choice had been reduced to those three.
The FIGC is believed to be prioritising a coach with a clear tactical identity, international pedigree and the ability to manage a generational transition within the squad.
Despite the growing speculation, Malago’s repeated caveats about the lack of guarantees – combined with the unprecedented financial commitment required – mean Italy’s pursuit of Guardiola remains highly ambitious and uncertain.
But by publicly acknowledging that the federation is ready to bend its budget for him, Malago has underlined just how determined Italian football’s leadership is to secure a transformational figure at the helm of the Azzurri.
