Pep Guardiola set to decide on Italy national team job, and the salary gap tells a familiar story

Pep Guardiola, the most decorated football manager of his generation, is on the verge of deciding whether to take over the Italy national team. Meetings between Guardiola and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) took place in Barcelona on July 18-19, and a response is expected imminently. The sticking point is exactly what you’d expect: money. The FIGC has offered approximately €10 million annually. Guardiola wants roughly €20 million. The backstory behind Italy’s coaching crisis Italy’s national team has been in freefall. Gennaro Gattuso was dismissed as head coach back in April 2026 after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The FIGC’s response has been to swing for the fences. Rather than promote from within or hire a safe, budget-friendly option, the federation zeroed in on Guardiola. Guardiola has long expressed admiration for Italian football culture. He’s publicly praised figures like Paolo Maldini, who now serves as the FIGC’s technical director. The FIGC has signaled a willingness to raise its budget considerably to land Guardiola. The backup plan and what comes next The FIGC isn’t putting all its eggs in Guardiola’s basket, at least not offic...