Paolo Maldini has disclosed that the Italian national team pursued Carlo Ancelotti before entering negotiations with Pep Guardiola. The attempt to recruit the current Brazil manager occurred after the Azzurri failed to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup following a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in April. Following that defeat, Gennaro Gattuso resigned, leading to Silvio Baldini taking over as caretaker coach. Upon being named technical director of the FIGC in July, Maldini acknowledged that the federation prioritized reaching out to the world’s top managers.
Maldini confirmed in a recent press conference that he approached his former AC Milan teammate Ancelotti first, noting that it felt appropriate to seek out the best available talent. Ancelotti, however, recently committed his future to Brazil, extending his contract through 2030 despite a Round of 16 exit at the 2026 tournament. With Ancelotti unavailable, the Italian federation shifted its focus to Guardiola. Yet, securing the former Manchester City boss remains difficult, as reports indicate his salary demands of €20 million are significantly higher than the federation’s current budget.
