Italy Confirm Ancelotti Was First Choice Before Guardiola Talks

Italy's coaching search is getting complicated — and now it's getting transparent. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed Thursday that Carlo Ancelotti was their first call before they ever picked up the phone to Pep Guardiola.

Maldini Sets the Record Straight

FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini dropped the admission at a news conference, making clear the federation didn't hide from the sequence of events.

"We cannot hide the fact that we also spoke to Carlo before talking to Pep," Maldini said. "Frankly, it seemed right to start with those we considered the best in the world."

Simple as that. Italy wanted the best, went down their list, and Ancelotti was at the top.

Ancelotti's Brazil Commitment Closes That Door

The problem? Ancelotti isn't available. The 67-year-old took charge of Brazil in 2025 and extended his deal through the 2030 World Cup back in May. Even after a last-16 exit at Norway's hands, the Brazilian Football Confederation stood firm — he's going nowhere.

Ancelotti and Maldini share history as former team-mates at both AC Milan and with the Italian national side, which made the outreach feel natural. But loyalty to Brazil means Italy had to move on.

The Guardiola Price Tag Problem

So the Azzurri turned to Guardiola, who wrapped up a decade at Manchester City this summer carrying an extraordinary trophy haul — six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League. The 55-year-old is free and, clearly, in demand.

FIGC president Giovanni Malago confirmed earlier in the week that talks with Guardiola had taken place and that "exceptions" on salary were possible. But according to BBC Sport, those exceptions may need to be significant. Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Guardiola is looking for around 20 million euros (£17m) per year — roughly double what Italy was prepared to offer.

Maldini, when pressed on the wage gap, kept his cards close.

"We honestly cannot provide any updates on what is happening at the moment," he said.

The Azzurri's Urgent Need

The vacancy has been open since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April, following Italy's failure to qualify for a third straight World Cup. That statistic alone signals the scale of the rebuild required — and why the FIGC is swinging for the biggest names available.

Maldini indicated the federation would ideally have a coach in place by the end of the week, though he stressed getting the right man mattered more than hitting a deadline.

Other Names Still in the Frame

If Guardiola's salary demands can't be met, Italy won't be short of alternatives — though none carry quite the same marquee weight. Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini (who previously led the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory), and former midfielder Andrea Pirlo have all been linked with the position.

With Italy's World Cup absences piling up and European rivals continuing to develop, the pressure on whoever takes the job will be enormous from day one.

What Comes Next

The Guardiola saga is far from settled. A €10m-per-year gap between offer and demand is a serious obstacle, and no one from the FIGC side is suggesting it's been bridged. If the two sides can't align, Italy may find themselves turning to a more domestic-minded solution after all.

For Guardiola, this is a defining career moment — his first opportunity to manage a national team. Whether Italy can afford that moment remains the question.

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