Pep Guardiola has declined an offer to become the head coach of the Italy national football team, citing his desire to spend more time with his family. The former Manchester City manager, 55, considered the proposal but plans to return to coaching at a later date.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) initiated discussions with Guardiola following the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April, who resigned after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—their third consecutive absence from the tournament. FIGC president Paolo Maldini met with Guardiola in Barcelona last weekend, following prior talks with Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti as the federation explored options for the senior team's leadership.

Italy reportedly offered Guardiola a substantial contract worth approximately £8.5 million per year in an effort to secure his services. However, Guardiola opted to focus on his personal life rather than immediately returning to management.

In the interim, Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini has overseen the senior team's affairs since Gattuso's departure. Meanwhile, Andrea Pirlo, 47, a former Milan and Italy teammate of Maldini, is expected to be appointed as the new head coach to lead Italy forward. The federation aims to rebuild and prepare the team following a challenging period marked by the recent World Cup qualification failure.