FIGC President Giovanni Malagò has confirmed that Pep Guardiola’s salary as the coach of Italy would be considered an ‘exception’ to the budget; however, he stated, ‘there’s no assurance that this will materialize’ since other candidates are still being considered.
In the past 48 hours, reports circulated that Italy’s technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo traveled to Barcelona for a weekend of discussions with Guardiola.
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Their aim is to genuinely attempt to persuade the former Manchester City manager to lead the national team.
Initial assumptions suggested that the cost of Guardiola’s salary would be prohibitive, but Malagò has opened the door to the possibility.
Guardiola’s Potential Role as an Exception for Italy
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 19: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
“There are certain financial considerations to keep in mind, and it’s an understatement to say we would have to make sacrifices for this,” the Federation President stated to Cronache di Spogliatoio and Gazzetta dello Sport.
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“Certain exceptions have been considered, particularly for a name that is currently making headlines: Pep Guardiola. I shouldn’t need to explain the obvious reasons behind this exception, but that doesn’t mean a deal is guaranteed.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after his team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The very fact that Maldini and Leonardo visited Guardiola in person to discuss the project signifies the direction of this overhaul for Italy.
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“I believe it was crucial to initiate and maintain a dialogue.”
Antonio Conte has stated he hasn’t been approached regarding the Italy position, leading to questions about whether the federation is exploring different coaching philosophies.
“It’s not a matter of being disrespectful to anyone. Discussions have already occurred with others, and the desire may be for someone who embodies a more contemporary approach, making it a subjective decision,” Malagò concluded.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, instructs his team during the UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City on September 18, 2025. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
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So, does the list of candidates now boil down to just Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo, and Roberto Mancini?
“Not at all; we are focusing on specific profiles, and these names certainly fall within that category,” Malagò clarified.