Pep Guardiola has reportedly held talks with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) about becoming Italy's new national team head coach, only months after leaving Manchester City in May following a decade in charge. Sky in Italy claims Paolo Maldini, the FIGC's new technical director, and his advisor Leonardo travelled to Barcelona for three days of discussions with the former Spain international, who would become only the second non-Italian to take the role since the 1960s if appointed.

Guardiola, 55, speaks fluent Italian and played two seasons in Serie A for Brescia and Roma between 2001 and 2003. Italy have been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso departed in April after a play-off defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina cost them a place at the 2026 World Cup, with Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo also linked to the vacancy. The reports have fuelled speculation over whether England's FA might revisit its interest in Guardiola, after Thomas Tuchel faced criticism for tactical substitutions in England's World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, despite the FA publicly backing him.