Pep Guardiola has reportedly held direct talks with Paolo Maldini about the possibility of becoming Italy’s next head coach. According to Sky Sport Italia, Maldini and advisor Leonardo travelled to Barcelona last weekend for a private meeting aimed at gauging the former Manchester City manager’s openness to leading the Azzurri project. The contact has reignited speculation around Guardiola, whose name has circulated for weeks as one of the most ambitious options under consideration.

FIGC president Giovanni Malagò has stressed that the shortlist is broader than the names publicly mentioned, which include Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo, and that any appointment must align with the federation’s 2026 budget. While Bayern interest and other rumours continue to swirl around Guardiola, the Italian federation remains in an active evaluation phase. The search for Italy’s new coach is still wide open, and Guardiola’s profile continues to fuel debate and intrigue around the national team’s future.