England face Guardiola decision as ex-Man City manager gets job offer

Updated: 22 Jul 2026 18:09 BST | 4 min read

Suraj Radia | Editor

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Pep Guardiola could become the next manager of Italy after the president of the Italian Football Federation confirmed that talks have been held with the former Manchester City coach.

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Guardiola left City at the end of last season after ten years in charge and, while the 55-year-old insisted he needs a rest from football, a spell in international management could tempt him into a quick return to management.

Italy are looking for a new head coach following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso in April after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Legendary Italian international Paolo Maldini, who is the new technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and his advisor Leonardo are understood to have travelled to Barcelona in recent days to hold talks with Guardiola.

And the negotiations were confirmed by FIGC president Giovanni Malago, who revealed that ‘exceptions’ can be made to afford Guardiola’s salary and make him the new coach of Italy.

"[Financial] Exceptions have been made, exceptions that for example may concern the name that is so overbearing in these hours: Pep Guardiola," Malago told Cronache di spogliatoio. “Exceptions for obvious reasons that I am not here to explain, but it is not certain that this thing will go through."

Italy hoping to tempt Guardiola into managerial return despite England desire

Guardiola spoke after leaving City in May and admitted he was ‘so tired’, suggesting that he would not be looking to return to club management anytime soon.

© IMAGO - Pep Guardiola is out of work after leaving Man City.

However, Guardiola has never closed the door on international management and recent reports suggested he had a verbal agreement to take the England job after Gareth Southgate’s resignation in 2024, only to opt to remain at City instead.

Guardiola is believed to have privately expressed a desire to manage England in the future, but, with Thomas Tuchel likely to remain in charge despite the frustrating defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, the Italy job may prove tempting for the ex-City boss.

Despite the negotiations, Malago denied that Guardiola and fellow front-runners Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini were the only names being considered for the role.

"Absolutely not,” Malago responded when asked. “We think about a certain profile and certainly these names fall into that category."