Coach Pep Guardiola is said to have rejected the opportunity to lead the Italian national team after leaving Manchester City this summer. According to many sources, the Spanish strategist has informed the Italian Football Federation that he does not feel this is the right time to return to coaching work.
After a decade leading Man City, Guardiola decided to close his journey at the Etihad Stadium even though he still has one year of contract left.
In 10 years of coaching, he won six Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups. The season eventually closed with two FA Cup and League Cup titles.
After the defeat of the Italian national team in the race to win a ticket to the World Cup for the third consecutive time, the Italian Football Federation considers Guardiola the number one candidate for the head coach position. However, according to Italian media, the 55-year-old coach rejected the offer with a short message: "Thank you, I am very honored, but currently I do not feel suitable".
This source said that Guardiola has considered very carefully before making a decision. Although he appreciates the opportunity to lead the Azzurri, he wants to spend more time resting after a long period of continuous work at Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Besides, Guardiola is also not sure whether national team football is really suitable for him.
President of the Italian Football Federation, Giovanni Malago, also admitted that the negotiation process encountered many obstacles, especially financial issues.
There are financial aspects that need to be considered and saying that we will have to try very hard is also a gentle way of expressing it. Pep Guardiola is a special case, but that does not mean the deal will definitely be successful" - Mr. Malago shared with Italian media.
Guardiola's decision is also said to affect the plans of the Football Association of England (FA), an organization that has long paid special attention to the former Barcelona coach. Although Thomas Tuchel is still leading the "Three Lions" and is likely to continue to receive trust after the England team won third place at the 2026 World Cup, the FA is said to still closely monitor Guardiola's situation.
According to sources, after the World Cup ends, the FA will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the performance of the England team before focusing on EURO 2028 - the tournament that England co-hosts with Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Previously, Guardiola was said to have reached a verbal agreement to lead the England national team after Gareth Southgate left his position as head coach. However, the Spanish strategist then suddenly changed his mind and decided to extend his attachment to Man City.
Currently, Guardiola has not yet made a decision about his next destination in his career. Refusing an invitation from the Italian national team shows that he is not ready to return to the coaching bench, and also leaves open the possibility of considering other options in the future.
