Maldini Reveals Pep Guardiola Scribbled Italy Lineups During Head Coach Talks

Paolo Maldini confirmed Pep Guardiola nearly accepted the Italy job, even drafting tactical lineups during a meeting in Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola reached the stage of scribbling potential tactical lineups on paper during negotiations to become the head coach of the Italian national team. Paolo Maldini, who served a 16-day tenure as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) starting in July, revealed that the Manchester City manager was highly tempted by the role. During a full day of discussions in Barcelona, Guardiola expressed a willingness to accept a salary one euro lower than his predecessor, dismissing reports that he had demanded a €20 million ($23.3m) package. Maldini and adviser Leonardo eventually exited their roles amid organizational turmoil following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the subsequent departure of Gennaro Gattuso.

Barcelona Summit and Tactical Planning

The pursuit of Guardiola involved a direct trip to Spain, where Maldini and federation representatives shared a lunch and an entire day of dialogue with the coach. Maldini described Guardiola as the individual who best represents technical and attacking football. The discussion was not limited to the senior squad; the group analyzed the entire Italian system from the Under-17 level upwards. Guardiola had previously signaled his interest in international management through mutual acquaintances, leading to the serious pursuit by the FIGC. Despite the depth of the planning, the 55-year-old coach ultimately declined the position due to physical and mental exhaustion.

Fatigue and Premier League Tenure

Guardiola cited a decade of intense competition in the Premier League as the primary reason for rejecting the Azzurri. Maldini noted that the manager required a period of rest following back surgery and ten gruelling years at Manchester City. While the financial terms were never an obstacle, the physical toll of his club career prevented the agreement from being finalized. This vacancy was created after Italy missed out on the 2026 World Cup, leading to a complete restructuring of the technical staff. Roberto Mancini was eventually selected to lead the national team for a second stint, while Claudio Ranieri took over the technical director responsibilities previously held by Maldini.

Ancelotti and Brazil Commitment

In addition to the talks with Guardiola, Maldini contacted Carlo Ancelotti to gauge his interest in the vacancy. Ancelotti, whom Maldini labeled the greatest Italian coach of all time, declined the offer to remain with the Brazilian national team. The Real Madrid manager informed his former AC Milan captain that Brazil had reaffirmed their complete trust in his leadership. These high-profile negotiations occurred during a period of significant upheaval within the FIGC, as the federation sought to reshape its identity after failing to reach the global tournament. The search concluded with Mancini’s return, ending a brief window where one of the most decorated managers in club history nearly transitioned to the international stage.