Pep Guardiola was so close to becoming Italy head coach that he began scribbling potential lineups on paper during talks over the job, Paolo Maldini has revealed.
Maldini was briefly tasked with helping reshape Italian football after being appointed technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in July, but quit alongside adviser Leonardo after just 16 days amid turmoil surrounding the search for a new national team coach.
But during that short spell, Maldini held serious talks with some of the biggest names in management, including Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. Maldini said he travelled to Barcelona to meet Guardiola and spent an entire day discussing his vision for Italy.
"He's the coach who best embodies technical and attacking play," Maldini said in an interview with Corriere Della Sella. "Through some friends, he'd expressed the idea of coaching a national team. We went to visit him in Barcelona, had lunch together, and talked for a whole day.
"He was very tempted. He came very close to accepting. He even started writing down lineups on paper."
Maldini also dismissed reports that Guardiola had demanded €20 million ($23.3m) to take the job, insisting finances had not prevented an agreement.
"Absolutely not. Money has never been an issue," Maldini said. "Pep told us clearly: 'Give me one euro less than the last coach was making, and I'm fine.'"
Instead, Maldini said Guardiola decided he needed a break after spending a decade in charge of Manchester City.
"Because of fatigue," Maldini said when asked why Guardiola ultimately rejected Italy. "Guardiola is coming off 10 gruelling years in the Premier League. He had back surgery. He wants to rest.
"But it was a very serious discussion. We studied the squads, from the Under-17s onwards."
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Guardiola was not the only high-profile coach sounded out during Maldini's brief spell at the FIGC.
Maldini revealed he also personally contacted Carlo Ancelotti, whom he played under at AC Milan.
"We called the best Italian coach of all time, my close friend Carlo Ancelotti," Maldini said.
"He replied that Brazil had reaffirmed its complete trust in him, and he bid us farewell, wishing us good luck. A necessary call."
Ancelotti remained committed to Brazil, leaving Italy to pursue other options as they sought a new coach following Gennaro Gattuso's departure after the country's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Mancini was ultimately appointed Italy coach for a second time, while Claudio Ranieri replaced Maldini as technical director.