Guardiola Said No to Italy — and Now Pirlo Could Be the One to Save the Azzurri
Pep Guardiola turned Italy down. With Ancelotti committed to Brazil and the FIGC without a manager, Andrea Pirlo is emerging as the frontrunner to rescue the Azzurri.
Italy tried everything. They offered an astronomical salary, promised complete freedom to shape the role, and even made exceptions that rarely exist in football. Pep Guardiola listened, thought it over — and said no.
According to Sky Italia and confirmed by the BBC, the former Manchester City manager told the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) that he is sticking to his plan of taking a break from the game: resting, travelling, and spending more time with his family. Simple as that. No offer is changing his mind for now.
What makes the situation even more delicate for Italy is that the first name on their list was also unavailable. Technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed that Italy approached Carlo Ancelotti first — who chose to remain in charge of Brazil. Only then did they turn to Guardiola, who also shut the door.
Three World Cups without qualifying. That is the burden the FIGC is carrying as it races to announce a new head coach before the week is out. And with the two biggest names off the table, the one coming to the fore is Andrea Pirlo — an Italian national-team icon as a player and currently manager of United FC in Dubai.
Pirlo would inherit a brutal Nations League group — France, Belgium, and Turkey — before attempting to guide the Azzurri to Euro 2028. A thankless mission, but one that someone will have to accept.
Across the Atlantic, Ancelotti remains firmly in the Brazil dugout. The Golmetria model puts the Seleção's title probability at 4.66% — a figure the market still views with scepticism. Either way, Brazil has a manager. Italy does not.
While the FIGC fights fires, the clock is ticking. The 2026 World Cup has already started being contested off the pitch.