Barcelona meeting signals Italy Azzurri’s bold push for Guardiola

On a sunny Saturday in Barcelona, the Italian national team gathered in a sun‑lit conference room to meet ex‑Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, with federation heads Paolo Maldini and Leonardo leading the overture and hoping for a response within the week.

The meeting took place in a bright conference space, allowing the delegation to discuss the national team’s future directly with Guardiola. Both sides exchanged views on the challenges facing the Azzurri and the expectations for a new head coach.

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, who head Italy’s football federation, pressed Guardiola for the top job, emphasizing the desire to secure a high‑profile coach quickly. Their delegation stressed that appointing a manager of Guardiola’s stature would signal a decisive step forward for the Italian side.

Italy have yet to appoint a new manager, with a host of candidates previously linked to the vacancy. The federation’s move to approach Guardiola marks a shift from speculation to a concrete proposal.

Gianluca Di Marzio reported that the Azzurri, overseen by Maldini and Leonardo, have made the first moves toward securing Guardiola, highlighting the urgency of the search. Di’s account underscores the rapid pace at which the Italian board is acting.

The delegation spent the weekend in Barcelona holding a meeting with Guardiola and expressing their interest in hiring him. Talks continued throughout the weekend, signalling a serious attempt amid other managers also being considered.

Corriere della Sera added that Italy now have a project in place, which has been presented to Guardiola. The federation says the project’s specific ideas will remain regardless of his decision.

Guardiola is expected to issue his response soon, with the Italian board hoping for an answer within the week. His reply will determine whether Italy pursue other candidates or finalize the appointment this week.

The report was compiled by Kaustubh Pandey for GIFN, underscoring the Azzurri’s determination to secure a high‑profile coach quickly. The detailed coverage reflects the significance of the potential appointment for Italian football.