Guardiola Eyes New Challenge as Italy Looks to Overhaul Football Structure

Rome – The Italian Football Federation is ready to reshuffle its budget to bring Pep Guardiola into the role of senior national team coach. After another underwhelming World Cup qualifying campaign, the federation seeks a bold reset anchored by a globally respected tactician.

Paolo Maldini, a senior FIGC official, and his consultant Leonardo spent several days in Barcelona discussing a long‑term vision that extends far beyond the senior squad. The initiative includes a full re‑design of the national team’s structure, from the youth pipelines to the senior set‑up.

Although the federation acknowledges its current financial shortfall, it is prepared to grant a significant discount on the usual compensation terms to secure Guardiola’s services. President Giovanni Malago told Sky Sports that “short‑term austerity will be eased for a name of this stature, even if it requires special rules.”

Guardiola is being placed at the heart of a massive “Azuro Project,” intended to rebuild Italian football from the grassroots level to the top tier. After a decade at Manchester City, where he collected twenty trophies—including a historic treble and a record‑breaking 100‑point league season—Guardiola is now a free agent contemplating his next move.

The strategic push follows Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, a setback that has forced the federation to consider radical reforms.