FOOTBALL – ITALY approached Carlo Ancelotti about the national team coaching job before discussing the role with Pep Guardiola, Italian technical director Paolo Maldini said yesterday.
Italy have been searching for a new coach since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after the four-time world champions failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
“We cannot hide the fact that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep. Frankly, it seemed right to start with those we considered the best in the world,” Maldini told reporters during a press conference.
The Brazilian Football Confederation has confirmed Ancelotti, an Italian and former team mate of Maldini at AC Milan, will remain in charge of the five-time world champions despite their defeat by Norway in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking after a meeting with Serie A executives, Maldini said the Italian federation would ideally appoint a coach by the end of the week but its priority was getting the right man. “We honestly cannot provide any updates on what is happening at the moment,” Maldini said when asked about a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport saying that Guardiola was seeking as much as €20 million ($22.8 million) per year to do the job, double what Italy’s football federation (FIGC) was offering.
Another factor complicating the talks is Guardiola’s desire to spend more time in Barcelona with his family.
Guardiola left Manchester City in May after a trophy-laden decade in charge.
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