Guardiola meets Maldini and Leonardo over Italy job | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has met Paolo Maldini and Leonardo as Italy intensify their search for a new head coach.

L'Équipe reports that the FIGC pair visited Barcelona last weekend to pitch a plan making Guardiola coach for at least four years, with a role in reforming Italian football.

The post has been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso quit on 3 April, three days after a third successive World Cup failure. Giovanni Malagò became president on 22 June, Paolo Maldini technical director on 11 July, with Leonardo as special adviser.

Under-21 boss Silvio Baldini handled two June friendlies and drew public support, yet the hunt has focused on Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini. Conte said on Sunday he had not been contacted, while Mancini has been put forward by Malagò.

Guardiola is out of contract after 10 years at Manchester City and has long-standing Italian ties from spells at Roma and especially Brescia. He had recently signalled a sabbatical, saying he wanted time for himself and interests outside football.

If he declines, Andrea Pirlo is a cheaper fallback after stints with Juventus, Karagümrük, Sampdoria and United FC in Dubai. Finances will matter, with Maldini to outline plans at Thursday’s Lega Serie A assembly as club presidents consider helping fund an elite coach’s salary. Club chiefs are pushing for a Conte return, and Malagò has urged patience, promising news within days.

Source: L'Équipe