**Italy Makes Financial ‘Exceptions’ in Bid to Hire Pep Guardiola as Coach**
In a significant move for Italian football, the head of Italy’s football federation, Giovanni Malago, has confirmed that discussions have taken place with renowned coach Pep Guardiola regarding the vacant position of head coach for the Italian national team. This revelation comes amid Italy's struggles in international football, particularly following their failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Malago's comments were made during an interview with the website Cronache di Spogliatoio, where he indicated that financial adjustments would be made to accommodate Guardiola’s potential salary. “Yes, and that is the exception for obvious reasons,” Malago stated when asked if the budget for the coach’s salary could be increased for Guardiola. He emphasized the importance of initiating dialogue with the celebrated coach, although he noted that the appointment is not guaranteed. “I won’t go into detail here, but it’s not sure that this [appointment] will come about. However, I still believe it was the right thing to do. It was important to open a dialogue and keep it alive,” he added.
Guardiola, who recently stepped down as the head coach of Manchester City after a successful tenure that included six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory, has a history with Italian football. He played for Brescia and AS Roma between 2001 and 2003, giving him a unique insight into the Italian game.
The Italian national team, known as the Azzurri, has a storied history, having won four World Cups. However, the recent failures to qualify for major tournaments have raised concerns about the state of Italian football. The upcoming Nations League match against Belgium on September 25 presents a crucial opportunity for the team to regain some momentum.
In addition to Guardiola, other candidates for the coaching position include former Italy internationals Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini. Mancini notably led Italy to victory in Euro 2020, making him a strong contender for the role.
As the Italian football federation explores its options, the potential hiring of Guardiola represents a bold step aimed at revitalizing the national team and restoring its former glory on the international stage.