Italy dreamed of Guardiola, suffers in reconstruction and plunges deeper into crisis

Italy dreamed big after another embarrassment in the European Qualifiers. After the departure of the then president of the federation, Gabriele Gravina, and the former coaching staff - led by idol Gennaro Gattuso -, Spanish Pep Guardiola became the main target to take over the team.

The conversations began to be led by two names with an impact in the country: former defender Paolo Maldini and former midfielder Leonardo. The duo formed by the Italian and the Brazilian took over as the national team's football director with the mission of signing on with the new coach and bringing even more knowledge and experience to the new cycle.

The "Guardiola project" did not succeed. He refused the offer and preferred to remain unemployed after leaving Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti was also a name considered, but the current coach of the Brazilian team rejected the idea and chose to remain.

The solution seemed to have been found: Andrea Pirlo, also an idol of the Italian national team. Everything seemed to be going well until Giovanni Malagò, current president of the Italian Football Federation, blocked the negotiations. The former player's commercial connection with the Fonbet bookmaker, in Russia, was the reason for the agent to order an end to the conversations.

The decision did not go down well. Paolo Maldini and Leonardo decided to resign from their positions after Malagò's decision, in an episode that further expands the crisis and postpones the definition of who will be the Italian commander from now on. So far, there has been no official announcement about the duo's departure.

One of the solutions to the crisis would be Thiago Motta. The Italian-born Brazilian is a coach and would have become the favorite to help alleviate the chaos. It would be Malagò's attempt to keep Maldini and Leonardo in charge of local football. The information is from the newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport.

In any case, the deadline is tight. Italy has been without a coach since the beginning of April. Silvio Baldini, from the youth teams, was the one who led the Italian team in the friendlies held in June, on an interim basis. On that occasion, he took a group full of young people to run around and do tests.

Italy will play again in less than two months. On September 25th, the team debuts in the Nations League against Belgium, at home. On this FIFA Date, Italy will still face France and Türkiye.

ITALY TIMELINE

- March 31, 2026: Italy loses to Bosnia, on penalties, is eliminated in the playoff and does not qualify for the World Cup. - April 2, 2026: Gabriele Gravina, then president of the Italian Football Federation, resigns from his position. On the same day, Buffon, then head of Italy's delegation, leaves his post.- April 3, 2026: Coach Gennaro Gattuso announces his departure from office after failing to qualify the team for the World Cup.- June 22, 2026: Giovanni Malagò is elected new president of the Italian Football Federation.- July 11, 2026: Italy announces the signings of Paolo Maldini and Leonardo. The former defender takes over as national team director, while the Brazilian starts to act as a consultant.- July 20, 2026: Italy begins negotiating with Pep Guardiola. Officials present the Italian Football Federation project to the Spanish coach during a meeting.- July 23, 2026: Paolo Maldini says he consulted Carlo Ancelotti. Coach, however, informs the CBF that he wants to remain in the position and refuses the Italian survey.- July 24, 2026: Pep Guardiola refuses Italy's offer, and Pirlo becomes favorite. Spanish coach decides to remain unemployed because he doesn't feel ready to return to training. The Italian is contacted and reaches an agreement with Maldini to take on the role.- July 26, 2026: Pirlo's relationship with the betting house gets stuck. President Giovanni Malagò is pushing to better understand the former player's relationship with Fonbet. On the same day, Pirlo declares himself to Italy and says that his relationship with the company in Russia is only commercial.- July 27, 2026: Pirlo says he will not be Italy's coach, and double resigns. The former player regrets the controversy over his relationship with Fonbet and is out of consideration. Maldini and Leonardo react and decide to leave their positions.

Vozinha will not be able to use a nickname on her new club's shirt

The 40-year-old goalkeeper had been without a club since leaving Portugal's GD Chaves before the World Cup