The newly elected FIGC president Giovanni Malagò has announced that the choice of the new head coach of the Italian national team will come «very soon». In an interview on the program Vivavoce, Malagò confirmed for the first time the existence of contacts with former Barcelona and Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, stating that the Federation could make an exception to the current budget discipline for him. «In the short to medium term, saying we need to tighten our belts is an understatement. But exceptions have been made that could concern the name that is so prominent these days,» Malagò said.

According to Sky Sport, technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo met with Guardiola over the weekend in Barcelona. Contacts are ongoing but the outcome remains uncertain: Malagò himself clarified that «it is not certain this will come to fruition», while considering it important to have opened a dialogue. Guardiola, as far as is known, had initially planned a career break, and the Italian national team could offer him less than other options both sportingly and financially. At Manchester City the Catalan coach earned approximately 14 million euros net per year, while the Italian offer would be around 5 million.

Malagò confirmed that the Federation is also working on other options, without this representing a lack of respect toward the other candidates with whom discussions have already begun. Among the names indicated as possible alternatives are Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo, although Malagò specified that the list of candidates is broader. Behind Guardiola's hesitations, according to some accounts, there would also be a promise made to his family.