Malagò: ‘Guardiola wages an exception for Italy budget, but no guarantee’ | OneFootball

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò confirms Pep Guardiola’s wages as Italy coach would be ‘an exception’ to the budget, but ‘there’s no guarantee this will go through’ as there are other names.

The reports went wild over the last 48 hours, with Italy technical director Paolo Maldini and his special advisor Leonardo travelling to Barcelona for a weekend of talks with Guardiola.

They are making a genuine, concerted effort to convince the former Manchester City man to take the job leading the Nazionale.

It had been assumed the cost of his salary alone would make it impossible, but Malagò opened the door.

Guardiola contact an exception for Italy

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 19: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“There are certain financial aspects to be considered, and it’s an understatement to say we’d have to grit our teeth for this,” the Federation President told Cronache di Spogliatoio and Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Some exceptions have been made, for example exceptions that regard the name making such waves at the moment: Pep Guardiola.

“I don’t need to sit here and explain the obvious reasons why he’d be an exception, but that is also no guarantee that this will go through.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The very fact that Maldini and Leonardo visited Guardiola in person to present the project is already a sign of where this Italy revamp is heading.

“I think it was right and important to open a dialogue and keep it alive.”

Antonio Conte said he had not been contacted for the Italy job, so are they looking at different characteristics?

“It is certainly not a lack of respect towards other people, because there has already been a discussion with others, and one can opt for someone who is perhaps of a more recent school of thought, so it’s a very subjective matter.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, gives the team instructions during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

So is the list reduced to just Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini then?

“Absolutely not, we are thinking about a certain profile, and these names are definitely within that category,” replied Malagò.