Guardiola holds talks with Italian Football Federation leadership

Former Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has unexpectedly held negotiations with the leadership of the Italian Football Federation. According to Sky Sports, technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo held several meetings with the 55-year-old Spaniard in Barcelona last week.

While the specific details of the discussions remain undisclosed, Guardiola is reportedly among the primary candidates to replace Gennaro Gattuso, who was dismissed following a failed qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

Guardiola, who departed Manchester City this summer after a decade-long tenure, is being considered as part of a restructuring effort for the Italian national team. The federation is currently evaluating several options to revitalize the squad's performance.

In addition to the Catalan coach, the Italian football leadership is also considering Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini for the position.