Pep Guardiola declined Italy national team coaching role due to exhaustion

Paolo Maldini has revealed that Pep Guardiola came close to accepting the position of head coach for the Italian national team but ultimately declined due to exhaustion. According to Maldini, negotiations involved a meeting in Barcelona where Guardiola expressed significant interest in the project, even reportedly beginning to write out lineups on paper.

Maldini noted that financial compensation was not a barrier, as Guardiola was willing to accept a lower salary than his predecessor. However, the manager's decade of demanding work in the Premier League and a recent back surgery led him to prioritize rest.

The pursuit of Guardiola followed a failed attempt to recruit Carlo Ancelotti. This coaching search occurred amidst a period of institutional crisis for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after the national team missed three consecutive World Cups. Maldini, serving as technical director, was tasked with rebuilding the squad for the 2030 World Cup cycle.