Operation Guardiola: Italy’s bold bid to revive Azzurra for 2030

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced a clear, ambitious target: to bring the Azzurra back to a World Cup by appointing Pep Guardiola. President Giovanni Malagò confirmed the talks, with national‑teams director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo steering the negotiations, aiming for the 2030 tournament after missing the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions.

Italy’s recent failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups has left a strategic void, prompting the federation to seek a high‑profile, tactically innovative coach who can reset the national team’s fortunes.

Giovanni Malagò publicly disclosed that the discussions are being led by Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, underscoring the federation’s commitment at the highest administrative level.

In a statement to the YouTube channel Cronache Di Spogliatoio, Malagò said, "Exceptions were made that, for example, may refer to the name that is so dominant at the moment: Pep Guardiola. Exceptions for obvious reasons that I will not mention here, but it is not certain that the deal will go through."

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Financially, Malagò admitted the FIGC is prepared to break its own spending ceilings and grant exclusive concessions to persuade the Spanish coach, signalling a willingness to stretch the federation’s budget.

Guardiola, who entered a sabbatical after ten successful seasons at Manchester City, also has strong Italian ties, having played for Brescia and Roma during his playing career.

Aware of the difficulty of securing Guardiola, Italy is simultaneously holding talks with other candidates, including Andrea Pirlo, Roberto Mancini, and coaches from a "more recent school," ensuring a backup plan should the primary target fall through.

The next steps involve finalising the financial package and clarifying the contractual exceptions mentioned by Malagò, with the outcome still uncertain as the federation navigates both ambition and practical constraints.