Pep Guardiola has turned down the opportunity to become Italy's national team manager, according to reports linked to discussions with the Italian Football Federation. The decision means one of the biggest coaching names in the game will not take charge of the Azzurri.
Earlier this week, FIGC president Giovanni Malago said conversations had taken place with Guardiola. That acknowledgement immediately raised interest around the possibility of the former Manchester City manager moving into international football with one of Europe's most high-profile national sides.
Guardiola's refusal closes off a major option for Italy as the federation continues its search for the right coach. Any approach involving Guardiola was always likely to attract significant attention because of his record at club level and his reputation for shaping successful teams.
With Guardiola now out of the picture, the focus returns to who Italy will target next. For the FIGC, the hunt for a manager goes on after brief hope that a deal could be explored with one of football's most sought-after coaches.
