Pep Guardiola has had huge success managing in Spain, Germany and England – could Italy be next?
Sky in Italy have reported that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has held talks with the former Manchester City boss, external to try to convince him to become their new national team head coach.
Reports say legendary Italian defender Paolo Maldini, the new technical director of the FIGC, and his advisor Leonardo, travelled to Barcelona and spoke with Guardiola over three days.
Ex-Italy internationals Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo are also in contention, while former Spain midfielder Guardiola would become only the second non-Italian to take over the national team - and the first since the 1960s - if he took the job.
It would also see a remarkable return to football, only a few months after his successful 10-year spell at Etihad Stadium came to an end in May.
However, it would not be his first taste of Italian football.
Guardiola, 55, is a fluent Italian speaker and spent two seasons playing in Italy's Serie A, from 2001 to 2003, with two spells at Brescia and one at Roma.
Italy beat England in the European Championship final in 2021 but have failed to qualify for three successive World Cups.
Gennaro Gattuso left the role of head coach in April after they were beaten by Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the European play-off to miss out on the 2026 tournament in North America.
