Coach Pep Guardiola is unlikely to take charge of the Italian national team, contrary to previous rumors - Photo: AP
According to the latest information from the renowned Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (July 23), coach Pep Guardiola is highly likely to reject the offer to coach the Italian national team after recent days of speculation.
Previously, in order to realize their ambition of bringing coach Pep Guardiola to the Italian national team's coaching bench, Technical Director Paolo Maldini and Technical Advisor Leonardo Bonucci flew directly to Barcelona to discuss a plan with the 55-year-old coach.
The FIGC expects the former Man City manager to bring a breath of fresh air, completely rebuilding the philosophy of Italian football from the youth level.
The Italian Football Federation was even willing to offer him a special arrangement, allowing him to spend as much time as possible living in his hometown of Barcelona.
However, La Gazzetta revealed that Pep Guardiola is apprehensive about the workload of the Italian national team manager. Since becoming a coach, Pep Guardiola has always worked to an obsessive degree. Knowing that he cannot work half-heartedly, he doesn't want to break his promise to take a full rest with his family after leaving Man City.
Besides the pressure factor, financial constraints also present a significant challenge. The €10 million/year salary offered by the FIGC is still a far cry from the nearly double that the Spanish strategist is hoping for.
Nevertheless, President Giovanni Malago decided to be patient and not rush to appoint a new coach. This topic was discussed at a meeting of the Federation attended by representatives of Serie A clubs.
If the Spanish strategist officially declines, the race to manage the Italian national team will return to square one with familiar candidates such as Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, and Andrea Pirlo.