Financial exceptions could be made for Guardiola - Italian FA
Pep Guardiola has held talks about becoming Italy head coach, Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago has confirmed.
Financial exceptions could be made to secure Pep Guardiola as Italy’s next head coach, according to the president of the Italian Football Federation.
Giovanni Malago has confirmed that talks have taken place with Guardiola about the possibility of taking charge of the national team. The comments suggest the federation would be willing to explore unusual arrangements if it believed the Manchester City manager was interested in the role.
The reported discussions point to Italy’s determination to consider high-profile options as it looks at the future of the national side. Guardiola, one of football’s most successful coaches, has long been linked with major jobs because of his record in club football, but any move to international management would represent a significant change in his career.
Malago’s remarks, as carried in a monitored public feed from BBC Sports, indicate that the idea has moved beyond speculation and has at least been discussed at an official level. However, no further details were provided about the nature of the talks, whether Guardiola has given any indication of interest, or what sort of financial flexibility might be considered.
The possibility of exceptions being made suggests the federation could be prepared to adjust its usual approach if a deal were to become realistic. Even so, there is no confirmation that Guardiola is a candidate in an active recruitment process, and the report does not indicate whether any formal offer has been made.
Italy have a long tradition of appointing experienced managers to lead the national team, and the prospect of Guardiola taking the role would be a major development for the game. For now, the most concrete information is that contact has been acknowledged by the federation president.
This report is based on a monitored public feed and reflects information attributed to BBC Sports.
Source: BBC Sports - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czxqdv4818yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
