SerpApi.Org
Italy have entered into talks with Pep Guardiola regarding the prospect of him becoming their next national team manager, the FIGC president has confirmed. Giovanni Malago has disclosed that Italy's governing body may need to make a special exception regarding the former Manchester City boss's wages, however.
Guardiola brought his time at the Etihad Stadium to a close following unprecedented success during his 10-year stint. The Catalan coach currently retains a position within City Football Group in an advisory capacity for clubs including Palermo, Lommel and Troyes.
The Manchester Evening News understands that this role restricts him from taking on another coaching position, though it is believed City's ownership would be unlikely to block his path. That position now appears set to be put to the test.
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Following their failure to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup, Italy parted company with Gennaro Gattuso in April, and amid a wider restructuring, new Italy technical director Paolo Maldini and his adviser Leonardo are on the hunt for a new head coach.
Guardiola, who has previously been connected with the England job and is reported to have reached an agreement with the FA prior to Thomas Tuchel's appointment, features among a list of candidates that is also said to include Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini.
FIGC president Malago has acknowledged that Guardiola would represent an 'exception' to the standard financial limitations. Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio and Gazzetta dello Sport, he emphasized the importance of keeping the lines of communication open.
"There are certain financial aspects to be considered, and it's an understatement to say we'd have to grit our teeth for this," Malago stated. "Some exceptions have been made, for example, exceptions that regard the name making such waves at the moment: Pep Guardiola.
"I don't need to sit here and explain the obvious reasons why he'd be an exception, but that is also no guarantee that this will go through." Malago added: "I think it was right and important to open a dialogue and keep it alive."
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Guardiola reportedly earned a remarkable £20 million ($26.75 million) per year at City - vastly different from the humble £680,000 salary ($910,000) that Gennaro Gattuso accepted before his exit in May following Italy's World Cup play-off loss.
Malago was also questioned about former Azzurri manager Antonio Conte, who recently revealed he had not been contacted regarding the position.
The chief responded: "It is certainly not a lack of respect towards other people, because there has already been a discussion with others, and one can opt for someone who is perhaps of a more recent school of thought, so it's a very subjective matter."
Malago was then asked whether Guardiola, Andrea Pirlo and former Italy manager Roberto Mancini were the only remaining candidates. "Absolutely not," he affirmed. "We are thinking about a certain profile, and these names are definitely within that category."
