Italy Guardiola – Italy’s federation is reportedly exploring a bold plan to appoint Pep Guardiola after Gennaro Gattuso’s exit. Money and timing are the biggest obstacles—but the pitch is ambitious.
Italy’s national team coaching situation has turned into a full-blown talking point after the FIGC’s upheaval following Gennaro Gattuso’s departure.
Misryoum understands that Pep Guardiola has emerged as a candidate in the background as Italy looks toward a new era, even if the move would be far more audacious than most fans would have expected just a season ago.
Italy’s rebuild after the Gattuso fallout
Gennaro Gattuso was dismissed earlier this month, with the decision arriving after Italy failed to secure their place at the World Cup this summer. The setback has had knock-on effects across the leadership structure, prompting the resignation of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina.
When the administrative order shakes as much as the results do. coaching searches tend to become louder—and Italy’s has clearly entered that phase.. The departure of key figures has left the Azzurri hunting for stability. but also for momentum strong enough to reset public expectations ahead of the next major tournament cycle.
Why Guardiola is suddenly “on the list”
Reports circulating in Italian and Spanish football circles point to a federation leadership “dream” of persuading Guardiola to break with the club model he has built at Manchester City.. Guardiola still has a year remaining on his contract, and his future beyond this season has long carried uncertainty.
For Italy, the appeal is obvious: Guardiola’s football has become synonymous with control, high standards, and the kind of structured attacking and positional dominance that can translate well in tournament football—where margins are tight and preparation is everything.
Misryoum also notes that financial realities loom large.. At City. Guardiola is reported to be earning €24.8 million per year. a figure that dwarfs what national team managers typically receive.. In comparison. Roberto Mancini—another former Guardiola-era reference point for Italian fans—earned far less during Italy’s Euro 2020-winning period.
The financial gap and the practical problem
Italy’s challenge isn’t simply whether it can afford Guardiola; it’s whether it can justify the spend for a role that. by nature. is different from club management.. National teams require sustained performance without the same daily training rhythms, squad depth, and recruiting control that top clubs provide.
That is why the “dream” angle matters: it suggests the FIGC is willing to take a public reputational gamble, even if the numbers must be negotiated creatively—through incentives, contract structure, or guarantees tied to tournament outcomes.
Misryoum readers should remember that national teams often become the stage for big promises, but also for big risk. If the appointment doesn’t land quickly, the backlash can be swift, especially when the federation is already reeling from leadership departures.
Bonucci’s “dream” and what it signals inside Italy
A key detail in this storyline is that the idea isn’t coming from a vacuum.. Leonardo Bonucci—currently linked with the federation—has been associated with the concept of rebuilding around Guardiola.. His comments captured the blunt emotional logic of Italian football culture: a sense that the right manager. at the right moment. can reset a team’s identity.
Misryoum sees a wider message in that “dreaming costs nothing” mindset.. It reflects a belief that Italy’s internal urgency is now high enough to chase a transformative figure rather than settling for a safer appointment.. In a rebuilding phase. federations sometimes prefer boldness over incremental choices—because fans don’t just want improvement; they want clarity.
Guardiola’s national-team appetite
There’s also a reason this proposal hasn’t come out of nowhere.. Guardiola has previously suggested that he would like the experience of coaching major international competitions.. Misryoum recalls his long-running interest in the concept of international football as a different type of challenge—one driven by tournament preparation. squad chemistry. and adapting tactics to limited training windows.
That doesn’t automatically mean he is ready to move.. The question is whether the timing, the offer, and the federation’s internal stability line up.. Guardiola’s record shows that he tends to commit fully to his environment; a national team appointment would need to feel equally solid in terms of vision and support.
What happens if Italy gets it wrong—or gets it right?
If Italy pursues Guardiola and fails, the process itself could still reshape the search. It would raise expectations for quality and reduce tolerance for interim solutions, meaning whoever comes next could inherit a higher bar than usual.
If Italy pulls it off, the upside is enormous—but not only on the pitch. It would be a powerful statement that the FIGC is aiming for modern football thinking and elite-level execution, not just short-term fixes after disappointment.
Misryoum’s bottom line: this “Guardiola dream” is less about a simple transfer-style negotiation and more about Italy trying to buy time, belief, and a competitive identity for a new cycle. The financial gap is real, but so is the desperation to change the trajectory.
For now. Guardiola remains at Manchester City for the moment. while Italy’s leadership chaos continues to make the coaching market feel unusually unpredictable.. In international football. where reputations travel fast. the next move—whoever it is—will likely define how Italy is perceived long before the first whistle of the next tournament.