Overview
- FIGC president Giovanni Malagò confirmed regular contact with Pep Guardiola and said the federation would make a one‑off budget exception to open formal talks.
- Malagò emphasized discussions are exploratory, no deal has been reached, and the federation is continuing conversations with other candidates.
- Pep Guardiola recently left Manchester City after a ten‑year spell in which he won 20 trophies, a change that has made him a rare high‑profile candidate who is reportedly available.
- The FIGC has already begun broader structural changes, including new technical leadership, and has held meetings to present a long‑term project to Guardiola's camp.
- Any hire would require unusual contractual terms and public scrutiny because it could include special financial arrangements, remote working conditions, and political attention given Italy's recent failures to qualify for the World Cup.