Pep Guardiola was on the verge of accepting the position of Italy manager, with details of potential line-ups being drafted, but ultimately turned down the offer due to exhaustion, according to Paolo Maldini, the Italian Football Federation's technical director. Maldini revealed that Guardiola had expressed interest in coaching a national team and met with federation officials in Barcelona.
During the meeting, which included a full day of discussions, Guardiola was described as being "very tempted" and "very close to accepting." He had even begun writing down potential team formations on paper. Maldini noted that Guardiola "best embodies technical, attacking football" and that the federation had studied squads from the Under-17 level upwards as part of the comprehensive project offered.
The move, however, ultimately fell through. Maldini attributed Guardiola's decision to "exhaustion," citing his "10 grueling years in the Premier League" and a recent back surgery. Guardiola, who had spent two seasons playing in Italy during his career and speaks the language, had promised his family he would live in Barcelona after ending his tenure at Manchester City. The former City manager had reportedly been concerned about the commitment required to immediately step back into management.
Following Guardiola's withdrawal, Roberto Mancini was appointed as the new Italy manager, replacing Gennaro Gattuso. This appointment came after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive tournament.
