Pirlo in advanced talks to become Italy coach after Guardiola rejection

Andrea Pirlo is in advanced negotiations to take charge of the Italy national team, with the United Arab Emirates-based coach now the leading candidate after Pep Guardiola turned down the role.

Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have moved swiftly towards appointing the former Juventus and Italy midfielder, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, once it became clear that Guardiola was not prepared to coach the Azzurri.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is understood to favour a younger coach who embraces modern football, is tactically progressive and open to collaboration and guidance. Those criteria have pushed Pirlo ahead of rivals Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini in the race to succeed to the job.

Maldini and Leonardo central to plan

Pirlo, currently in charge of United Arab Emirates club side United, has previously been criticised by some within Italian football for what they see as a lack of strong dressing-room authority – a trait considered crucial in handling a notoriously demanding Italy squad environment.

To address that concern, Maldini and Leonardo have been handed a significant brief on the national team’s future and are expected to act as powerful figures around the new coach. Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), has entrusted them with a major role in shaping key decisions for the Azzurri.

The pair are described as ready to assert their authority over any player or staff member who might challenge Pirlo’s position, effectively taking on part of the leadership and disciplinary duties around the squad so the coach can focus on the footballing project.

Talks at advanced stage

Negotiations between Pirlo and the FIGC are reported to be at an advanced stage, with the 45-year-old said to be highly enthusiastic about what has been presented to him as a “revolutionary” project for the national team.

Within the FIGC, officials are preparing for an intensive working weekend as they move towards a final decision. The Federal Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and while it does not formally appoint the national coach – the statutes state it is only “consulted” – that gathering is being viewed as a potential moment to announce Pirlo’s appointment, should an agreement be reached in time.

Long-term vision to 2030 and beyond

Pirlo is expected to be offered a contract running through to the 2030 World Cup, reflecting a desire for stability over at least one full World Cup cycle.

However, Maldini is understood to be thinking even further ahead, envisaging a long-term overhaul of Italian football that begins with youth development. His concept involves rebuilding the system from the 12-13 age bracket upwards, a process that could take eight to 10 years to fully implement.

This wider strategy is aimed at reshaping the technical and tactical identity of Italian players from a young age, with the senior national team eventually benefiting from a new generation schooled in those principles.

Financial terms below Mancini proposal

From a financial standpoint, the package on the table for Pirlo is likely to be more modest than that previously discussed with Mancini.

Estimates indicate that Mancini would have accepted an annual salary of around €2m to return to the role. Pirlo, by contrast, is not expected to earn more than €1.5m per season under the proposed deal.

While the figures are lower, Pirlo is described as being driven more by the opportunity to lead a major national team and to be the frontman of a sweeping reform project than by financial considerations.

If finalised, the appointment would see one of Italy’s iconic 2006 World Cup winners return to the Azzurri setup in the top job, tasked with steering both the senior side and a broader restructuring of the country’s footballing future.