Guardiola for Italy? La Gazzetta says he's waiting for the call | OneFootball

After missing out on the 2026 World Cup, the Italian Federation is seeking a radical change. In Europe, reports say the City manager is willing to listen to an offer to begin the rebuilding process.

Italy’s elimination against Bosnia in the playoff left a void that the Italian Federation wants to fill with the biggest name on the market: Pep Guardiola. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Catalan coach would not turn down an offer to take charge of the Azzurra. The goal is clear: rebuild the national team after Gennaro Gattuso’s departure and focus all efforts on the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.

Guardiola’s connection with Italy is nothing new. During his playing days, Pep spent time at Brescia and Roma, creating an emotional bond that the Italian leadership hopes to capitalize on. “I want to coach a national team in the future. To experience a World Cup or a European Championship,” the coach said some time ago, opening a door that Italy now sees as a real possibility.

The key date on the calendar is June 22, the day elections will be held in the Italian Federation. The executives’ intention is to make contact before that date in order to present Guardiola as the leader of the new sporting project. The main obstacle is his contract with Manchester City, which runs until mid-2027, although in England Enzo Maresca is already being mentioned as his possible successor if he decides to make the jump to international football.

The push for Guardiola also has internal backing. Leonardo Bonucci, a historic figure for the national team, said at the Laureus Awards that Pep is the right man for a “radical change.” With the Azzurra out of the big tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the arrival of City’s current manager would represent the most ambitious move in recent Italian football history.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.