Pep Guardiola’s proposed salary to become Italy head coach would be a “financial exception” for the country’s football federation and the deal is still far from guaranteed, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has warned.
Giovanni Malago confirmed that the FIGC is prepared to stretch its budget to try to secure the former Manchester City manager, amid a high-profile charm offensive led by national team technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo.
For the past 48 hours, Italian and Spanish media have reported that Maldini and Leonardo travelled to Barcelona over the weekend to hold intensive talks with Guardiola about leading a new long-term project with the Azzurri.
FIGC ready to stretch finances for Guardiola
Guardiola’s wage demands had previously been viewed as the main obstacle to any agreement, but Malago signalled that the federation is willing to depart from its usual financial rules if it believes the appointment is transformative.
“There are certain financial aspects that clearly have to be taken into consideration, and saying we would merely have to put ourselves under slight financial pressure to cover them would be an understatement,” Malago told Football Italia.
He went on to stress that the Spanish coach is being treated as a unique case.
“There are some exceptions that can be made, and they are the exceptions related to the name that is causing all this debate at the moment: Pep Guardiola. I don’t need to explain the obvious reasons that make him an exception, but that does not mean there are any guarantees that it will happen.”
Despite the willingness to bend financially, Malago underlined that negotiations remain delicate and no agreement is in place.
Maldini and Leonardo front the Azzurri rebuild
The decision to send Maldini and Leonardo to speak face-to-face with Guardiola has been widely interpreted as a clear signal of the FIGC’s strategic direction as it seeks to rebuild after recent disappointments.
Observers see the personal visit as an attempt to sell Guardiola on a modernised vision for the national team, with greater emphasis on innovation and long-term planning than in past cycles.
Commenting on their trip, Malago said: “I believe it was right and extremely important to open a dialogue and to keep it alive.”
Their Barcelona mission is understood to have included detailed discussions on sporting control, youth development and the degree of autonomy Guardiola would be granted, though no formal offer has been confirmed.
Conte not contacted as FIGC seeks ‘more modern’ ideas
Malago also addressed questions about why former Italy boss Antonio Conte has not been approached, and whether the federation is actively seeking a different managerial profile.
“The matter does not involve any lack of respect for others, as discussions have already taken place with other names,” Malago explained.
“We may head towards an option that belongs to a more modern school of thought, which is something that is subject to personal evaluation.”
The comments appear to indicate a preference for coaches associated with progressive, possession-based football and tactical flexibility – qualities strongly linked with Guardiola’s career at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Shortlist ‘not limited’ to Guardiola, Pirlo and Mancini
Speculation in Italy has focused on whether the final shortlist has been narrowed to Guardiola and two former Azzurri icons, Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini.
Asked directly if the race was down to those three names, Malago dismissed the idea of such a restricted field.
“Of course not, we are thinking about specific characteristics for the coach, and these names certainly fall within that category,” he said.
The FIGC president’s remarks suggest that while Guardiola is the standout target – and the only one likely to trigger a “financial exception” – the federation is keeping its options open as it looks for a candidate capable of redefining Italy’s footballing identity in the coming years.
