Guardiola turns down Italy national team job, Italian press reports

Pep Guardiola has declined an offer to coach the Italy national team through the 2030 World Cup, according to Italian media reports. The Italian Football Federation, through its new sporting director Paolo Maldini, approached the Spanish manager after sacking Gennaro Gattuso following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Guardiola reportedly turned down the role and also requested an annual salary of 20 million euros, a condition that affected the course of talks. The 54-year-old left Manchester City after a decade in charge that yielded six consecutive Premier League titles and the club's first UEFA Champions League trophy. Italy was eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European play-off round, missing out on a second consecutive World Cup. The federation's search for a new head coach continues, with no replacement named as of the latest reports.