Pep Guardiola has held talks with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over becoming the next head coach of Italy's national team, although federation president Giovanni Malagò says there is no certainty that a deal will be reached.
Malagò confirmed the discussions in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, revealing that the federation was prepared to make an exception to its budget to pursue the former Manchester City manager.
Asked whether Italy could increase its budget to meet Guardiola's salary demands, he replied: “Yes, and that is the exception for obvious reasons.”
“I won’t go into detail here but it’s not sure that this 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.”
Guardiola, 55, left Manchester City at the end of last season after a remarkable 10-year spell in which he won six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and numerous domestic trophies. He also has experience of Italian football, having played for Brescia and AS Roma between 2001 and 2003.
Italy are searching for a new head coach after the men's national team failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for a third consecutive time in March, extending one of the most difficult periods in the country's football history despite winning four World Cup titles.
The federation is seeking a long-term appointment capable of rebuilding the Azzurri ahead of the UEFA Nations League and future international tournaments.
Italian media have reported that former Italy manager Roberto Mancini, who guided the national team to the Euro 2020 title, and former midfielder Andrea Pirlo are also among the candidates being considered for the role.
Reports have also suggested that senior federation officials recently met Guardiola to outline their long-term vision for the national team. However, the Spaniard has previously indicated that he intended to take a break from coaching after leaving Manchester City, leaving any potential appointment uncertain.
Italy's next fixture is against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on 25 September, adding urgency to the search for a new head coach.
