Arabic version: إيطاليا تجري محادثات مع بيب غوارديولا بحسب التقارير

According to BBC News, the Italian Football Federation has held talks with Pep Guardiola about becoming Italy’s next national team head coach. Sky in Italy reported that FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo travelled to Barcelona and met the former Manchester City manager over three days.

Guardiola, 55, ended a successful 10-year spell at Manchester City in May and said he needed rest after the demands of club football. He won 20 trophies in England, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

Italy are also considering former internationals Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo, the report said. Guardiola would be only the second non-Italian to manage the Azzurri, and the first since the 1960s, if appointed. He previously played in Serie A between 2001 and 2003, with two spells at Brescia and one at Roma, and is a fluent Italian speaker.

The vacancy followed Gennaro Gattuso’s departure in April after Italy lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the European play-off and missed the 2026 World Cup. Italy, four-time world champions and two-time European champions, are 15th in the world rankings and have failed to qualify for three successive World Cups. Their next match is against Belgium in the Nations League on 25 September at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Guardiola has also been mentioned as a possible option for England should the Football Association seek a replacement for Thomas Tuchel. Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the FA could pursue Guardiola if he is available, although Tuchel retains the FA’s backing after England finished third at the World Cup.