A media report stated that Josep Guardiola rejected the opportunity to coach the Italian national football team.

Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation, said earlier this week that negotiations had been held with Guardiola, who left Manchester City this summer after spending 10 years there, and that exceptions could be made regarding salary.

Paolo Maldini, technical director of the Italian Football Federation, said on Thursday that the federation initially contacted its former player Carlo Ancelotti, who currently coaches the Brazilian national team.

The BBC reported on Friday that Ancelotti preferred to stay in his position, and Guardiola informed the Italian federation that he intends to proceed with his plan to take a break from football, allowing him to relax, spend more time with his family, and travel.

Information indicates that the Italian federation, in addition to offering a huge salary, practically gave Guardiola the freedom to shape the nature of the position as he saw fit, in an attempt to convince one of the most successful coaches in the history of the game to lead a team that has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups.

But Guardiola, after giving himself some time to study the situation, decided to reject the offer.

This means that Andrea Pirlo, former Italy national team playmaker and current head coach of UAE club United FC, has become the leading candidate to take charge of the Italian national team during the UEFA Nations League this autumn, where they will face France, Belgium, and Turkey, and will then attempt to qualify for the 2028 European Championship.

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