Pep Guardiola has turned down a huge offer to become the new head coach of the Italian national team.
The four-time world champions failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup – the third time in a row they have missed out on football’s biggest show.
It has prompted the Azzurri to consider bringing in a foreign coach for the first time since thew 1960s with Guardiola approached.
The 55-year-old stepped down as Manchester City boss at the end of last season, bringing the curtains down on an extraordinary decade at the Etihad.
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Paolo Maldini, the legendary Italy and AC Milan defender, was named as the Italian federation’s new technical director at the start of the month and confirmed talks had taken place with Guardiola, along with Carlo Ancelotti who is currently in charge of Brazil.
Despite an offer rumoured to be worth €20million, Guardiola has rejected their advances. Gazzetta dello Sport report the Catalan responded to Italy’s approach with a message that read: ‘Thank you, I’m honoured, but I don’t feel like it right now.’
Guardiola is said to be determined to take some time for himself and his family after a decade at City having managed Bayern Munich and Barcelona before arriving in Manchester.
There has been major managerial upheaval in the wake of the World Cup with Jurgen Klopp today confirmed as the new Germany boss, replacing the outgoing Julian Nagelsmann.
England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina saw head coach Thomas Tuchel met with huge criticism.
Tuchel signed a new contract just before the World Cup began with the FA planning to stick with their man despite their disappointing campaign.
While hopeful the German will learn from his mistakes, Wayne Rooney believes England should move for Guardiola if he shows interest in the role.
‘I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If Pep Guardiola is available, then maybe you go and get him,’ Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
‘I think he is a top-class manager and what the top managers do, they learn from the mistakes and they improve and get better.
‘If we sack him, what managers are we going to bring in? And I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola.