Italian Football Federation director Paolo Maldini has revealed that the federation held talks with Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola during its search for a new head coach for the national team.
According to a post by football journalist Fabrizio Romano on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Maldini said the federation sought to explore the availability of two of football’s most accomplished managers.
“We have approached Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola,” Maldini said. “We wanted to start talking with the best world-class managers to understand if they could be available for the Italy job.”
Although discussions took place, Maldini did not disclose how far the talks progressed or whether either coach seriously considered the role. Guardiola remains under contract with Manchester City, while Ancelotti’s managerial future has been the subject of speculation.
Maldini’s remarks highlight the federation’s ambition to appoint a world-class coach as Italy seeks to rebuild and re-establish itself among international football’s elite. While neither approach resulted in an appointment, the discussions offer insight into the calibre of candidates considered during the selection process.
