Italy need miracle to convince Guardiola as Maldini picture emerges after meeting
Quick summary
The Italian Football Federation reportedly met with Pep Guardiola about the vacant Italy national team coach position, but convincing him is described as needing a miracle. A photo of Daniel Maldini at the meeting has surfaced.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceAccording to Fabrizio Romano, Italy would need a ‘miracle’ to persuade Pep Guardiola to take the job, as the former Manchester City manager is keen to take a break. Meanwhile, a photo of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo following their meeting with Guardiola has surfaced online.
Italy dream of hiring Guardiola as their new coach, especially after a meeting between technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo with the Spanish tactician.
All Italian media agree that it will be a tough task to convince Guardiola , given that the 55-year-old is eager to take a break after spending the last ten years at Manchester City.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has published a picture of Leonardo and Maldini on the plane back to Italy after the meeting with Guardiola in Barcelona this weekend.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Un post condiviso da 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎 𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑨 (@herewegoitalia)
Romano also provided an update on the whole situation, confirming that the Azzurri have little hope of making Pep change his mind.
“The reality for those close to Guardiola is that, as a signal, Pep has in mind taking time for his family and not restarting right away,” Romano said on YouTube.
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) “If they manage to convince him, it’s a miracle and a masterpiece, because the chances are very low.”
According to Romano and other Italian sources, Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini remain the leading candidates for the Italy job if Guardiola turns down the proposal.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, the FIGC is searching for a new Italy national team head coach. Pep Guardiola has emerged as a dream candidate, but the federation reportedly faces enormous difficulty in luring the Manchester City boss away from club football. A photograph of Daniel Maldini — son of Italian football icon Paolo Maldini — appearing at a meeting with FIGC officials has raised speculation about his potential involvement. Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, making the coaching appointment a critical decision for the federation.
Chance analysis
Italy is in a difficult position after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, making the head coach role less attractive to elite managers like Guardiola. The pursuit of Guardiola is largely aspirational — his commitment to Manchester City and general preference for club football makes a move highly unlikely. The emergence of the Maldini connection suggests FIGC may be exploring modernized, forward-thinking candidates. Whoever is appointed faces a long-term rebuild with limited competitive fixtures before the next major tournament.
Unlikely to affect any imminent Italy match; appointment process remains in early exploratory phase with no confirmed candidate.
Treat any Italy managerial appointment news as low-probability signal for tactical or lineup changes until an official hiring is confirmed.