---
title: "Pep Guardiola in Italy? Maldini prepares a revolution for the 'Azzurri'"
description: "Pep Guardiola could take charge of the Italian national team! 🇮🇹 Paolo Maldini is preparing a revolution and has ruled out Mancini and Conte from the candidate list. Serie A clubs are ready to pool resources to pay the Spaniard’s salary and save the team from a historic collapse. 🏆⚽"
date: 2026-07-13T11:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pep-guardiola-italy-maldini-revolution
tags: [guardiola, italy, paolo-maldini, manchester-city, world-cup]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Pep Guardiola in Italy? Maldini prepares a revolution for the 'Azzurri'

![Pep Guardiola in contemplation before Manchester City logo — rumors of move to Italy national team](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/13/pep-guardiola-italy-maldini-revolution/pep-guardiola-italy-maldini-revolution-1.webp)

The football world is witnessing one of the most intriguing stories in recent years. Following the anticipated departure of Josep Guardiola from Manchester City, an unexpected destination has emerged for the Spanish genius — the Italian national team. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former manager of the 'Citizens' has made it onto the shortlist of candidates for the head coach position of the national squad.

### Maldini's Plan: No Compromises

The initiative comes from the new technical director of the Italian Football Federation, the legendary Paolo Maldini. His contract runs until the 2030 World Cup, and from day one, he has declared his intention to conduct a full-scale reform, rejecting banal and compromise-driven solutions.

As a result of this approach, names previously considered ironclad favorites have been eliminated from the list. Neither Antonio Conte nor Roberto Mancini are now being considered as the primary contenders. The federation leadership believes these specialists are not suitable for the global revolution that the 'Azzurri' needs under current conditions.

### Financial Challenge and Club Support

Negotiations with Guardiola are expected to be complex. The main argument from the Italian side is the coach’s long-standing desire to manage a national team at a major international tournament. However, there is a serious obstacle: the financial issue.

In his farewell season in England, Guardiola earned around €25 million. The Italian federation’s budget is clearly insufficient for such a salary. However, the new management team has a trump card: solidarity among Serie A clubs. The oligarchs and owners of top-division teams are so keen on the Spaniard’s arrival that they are willing to make a collective financial contribution to partially cover the coach’s astronomical demands.

### Backup Options and Historical Context

The success of Maldini’s mission depends on delicate behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Should Guardiola decline, the Italians already have a backup plan focused on high-profile names: Carlo Ancelotti or Andrea Pirlo.

The need for a course correction in Italian football is critical. The Italian national team, a four-time World Cup champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), is experiencing the deepest crisis in its history. The latest devastating blow was failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. In the qualifying playoff final, the team lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout.

This defeat set a historic low: Italy became the first former World Cup-winning nation to miss three consecutive tournaments — in 2018, 2022, and 2026. The last time Italy competed in the World Cup was in 2014, where they failed to advance past the group stage.