Former Italian Football Federation technical director Paolo Maldini says Pep Guardiola came close to becoming head coach of the Italian national team.
Maldini revealed this following Roberto Mancini’s return to the role, with the former Italy boss taking charge again after previously leading the team to the 2020 European Championship title.
According to Maldini, Guardiola was his preferred choice to succeed Mancini and was close to accepting the job. However, the former Barcelona and Manchester City manager ultimately turned down the opportunity, paving the way for Mancini’s return.
“He’s the coach who best embodies technical and attacking play. He’d expressed the idea of coaching a national team. We went to visit him in Barcelona, had lunch together, and talked for a whole day.”
“He was very tempted. He came very close to accepting. He even started writing down lineups on paper” Maldini said to Corriere Della Sella and added that money wasn’t the issue that prevented Guardiola from accepting the job by stating
“Absolutely not. Money has never been an issue. Pep told us clearly: ‘Give me one euro less than the last coach was making, and I’m fine.”
Maldini left his role as Italy football technical director prior to Mancini’s appointment.
