The “bomb” transfer after missing the World Cup qualification! » The legend who could become Italy's new coach
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Thursday, 02 April 2026, 10:45 / Updated on Thursday, 02 April 2026 10:53
Pep Guardiola (55 years old) is on the shortlist made by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for the position of coach, which would become vacant with the departure of Gennaro Gattuso. The Manchester City manager wants to take over a national team and has rivals in two former Squadra Azzurra coaches, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini.
Italy is trying to get out of the mess it got into after Gennaro Gattuso's national team missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third time in a row. After the failure (1-1, 2-4 on penalty kicks) against the Bosnia-Herzegovina national team, it is expected that today to produce the dismissal or resignation of the president Gabriele Gravina and the separation from the selector Gennaro Gattuso.
Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi and Max Allegri are the Italian candidates for the Squadra Azzurra
The intervention of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the harsh reaction of the Minister of Sports and Youth and the petition made in the Italian Senate, which asked for the reset of the Italian football system, has already started the casting for the position of selector of the Azzurra Squad.
La Gazzetta dello Sport learned details from the FIGC entourage and published a list of the names of the coaches targeted for Gattuso's succession. An illustrious manager from the Premier League makes his way among the Italian solutions. Pep Guardiola is seen by the pink daily as a surprise candidate, who would compete with technicians who have passed through the national team or have a CV to recommend them.
Pep Guardiola // PHOTO: Imago Images
It is about Antonio Conte, Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi and Massimiliano Allegriassuming the conditions are met for their departure from their respective clubs, Napoli, Al Sadd, Al Hilal and Milan respectively. “As for the coach of the Italian champion, it's no secret that he has longed for years to return to the bench of the national team,” confirms Sportmediaset.
Pep Guardiola dreams of leading a national team at the World Cup!
Returning to Gazzetta dello Sport, it is said that “the foreign option would be an option: in recent years, so to speak, there was only Herrera, but with Valcareggi for four matches. The 60s. And the obsession with foreigners is not the solution.
There is only one name: Pep Guardiola. He has no financial problems, but will he leave City? He could make a big bet with the help of sponsors… Is such a thing possible?”.
The Spanish manager will complete a decade at the Citizens this summer and is rumored to be leaving at the end of this season, just like himself he confessed that he dreams of one day managing a national team at the World Cup.
The pink daily states that the favorites remain, however, two Italians: “Mancini and Conte, side by side. The conflict with Mancini ended dramatically, with threats in court. The case had been resolved, but with the departure of Gravina, the past would no longer be an issue.
“Roberto Mancini rebuilt in 2018 and created a spectacular team. But he is no longer the brilliant European champion”
Gravina's potential successor (especially from Malagò's camp) is eager to recall Mancini. The advantage of the European champion coach is that, despite the fact that he trains in Qatar, he can be released whenever and for whatever he wants.
Roberto Mancini was Italy's coach for five years, with 58 matches / Photo: Gulliver/GettyImages
The question is: which Mancini would return? The first, the brilliant and visionary former European champion, or the second, unmotivated and out of the Italian circuit? Mancini rebuilt the national team in 2018, creating a spectacular team, but today he should invent new players”.
In the balance is Antonio Conte, who also tried to leave Naples last summer: “In 2016, he left behind the memory of a coach who, with the weakest team in recent years, was on the verge of achieving a performance.
“Antonio Conte should break his contract with Napoli!”
He's slightly at a disadvantage for an obvious reason: Naples. The relationship with De Laurentiis is not idyllic and it would not be a problem to release him at the end of the season. But the contract exists. Conte should terminate him or, rather, leave only at the end of May, to start immediately with the two friendlies in June.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis turned him back in the summer on his way to Juventus. Will he still manage to keep Antonio Conte at Napoli? / Photo: Imago
Italy cannot afford to have a “summer” coach who waits until September with the League of Nations. It would already be late. We need to meet face to face and work out the first strategies.
We can't waste any more time. The next project should include a “public health” week for the national team during the season. Are we asking too much?”.
