Financial ‘exceptions’ made for Pep Guardiola to become next Italy head coach – The Guardian

The Italian Football Federation is in talks with Pep Guardiola to appoint him as the head coach of the Italy national team, according to reports from the BBC and Sky Sports.

The move comes as the federation seeks a replacement for Gennaro Gattuso. According to The Telegraph, Italy is ready to spend significantly to lure Guardiola back into a management role that fits the national team’s requirements.

The federation president confirmed that discussions are underway, noting that a salary exception could be made to accommodate Guardiola’s requirements, as cited by ESPN.

Financial Terms and Federation Strategy

According to ESPN, the federation president explicitly stated that financial exceptions are possible to make the role attractive to the manager.

Replacing Gennaro Gattuso

The search for a new manager follows the tenure of Gennaro Gattuso. Sky Sports reports that the federation has identified Guardiola as a primary candidate to take over the leadership of the national team.

The reports from multiple outlets, including Sky Sports and the BBC, confirm that the dialogue between the federation president and Guardiola’s camp is currently active.