Overview
- The Serie A assembly on Thursday, July 23 produced no announcement of a new Italy coach after president Giovanni Malagò said a name was unlikely to be revealed at the meeting.
- Pep Guardiola remains the federation’s priority but talks have slowed because reports place FIGC’s offer at about €10 million a year while Guardiola is said to want roughly €20 million plus concerns about personal commitment.
- Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo have operational control of the Club Italia rebuild and are continuing discussions with other candidates, with Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti among names being revisited if Guardiola declines.
- Some Serie A presidents have informally discussed contributing to a coach’s salary to make elite candidates viable, but no clubs have publicly committed funds and the federation must weigh budget limits against the desire for a top appointment.
- Club-level pressures are already pressing: Alessio Romagnoli’s move to Al‑Sadd appears to have collapsed and he was recalled to Lazio for tests, Napoli defender Lorenzo Buongiorno is due for knee surgery and may miss more than four months, and Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has publicly criticised a slow transfer window.