'Money was never an issue': Paolo Maldini explains why Pep Guardiola did not agree terms with Italy

Paolo Maldini's clip arsenic manager of nationalist teams astatine the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) was little — 16 days, to beryllium precise — but eventful. One of the Italian's roles was to assistance prime the perfect manager for the Azzurri pursuing Gennaro Gattuso, and Pep Guardiola came 'very close' to taking the post.

Maldini spoke astir the expectations and frustrations surrounding the hunt for a caller Italy manager successful an interrogation with Corriere della Sera and explained wherefore the Spaniard did not sign.

'We went to sojourn him successful Barcelona, we had luncheon together, we talked for a full day. He was precise tempted. He adjacent started penning lineups down connected paper, Maldini said.

'But the money, the 20 cardinal euros that were discussed, was ne'er the problem. Pep told us: Give maine 1 euro little than what the erstwhile manager took and I americium fine. But helium refused due to the fact that helium was tired. He was coming disconnected 10 gruelling years successful the Premier League, and had backmost surgery. He wanted to rest.'

Maldini said helium pursued Guardiola due to the fact that helium considered him the manager who 'best embodies technical, attacking play'.

Talks began aft Maldini learned the Spaniard had already floated the thought of taking complaint of a nationalist team, and pursuing Carlo Ancelotti's rejection of the role. The Brazil brag is simply a 'great friend' of Maldini's.

'We called the top Italian manager of each time. He told america Brazil had reiterated full assurance successful him and wished america luck. It was a telephone we had to make' — Maldini said.

Italy flirted with Guardiola and Pirlo and settled for Mancini: 'We had a antithetic project'

According to Maldini, the database of imaginable names to instrumentality implicit the Azzurri besides included Andrea Pirlo (Dubai United, United Arab Emirates), Daniele De Rossi (Genoa) and Fabio Grosso (Fiorentina).

However, FIGC president Giovanni Malago reportedly asked that nary Serie A managers beryllium approached, arsenic portion of an statement made upon his election.

Of those names, lone Pirlo remained a viable campaigner nether those terms. With Ancelotti and Guardiola retired of the running, attraction turned afloat to the erstwhile midfielder.

'We wanted a young manager, 1 who would clasp the task and had a vocation astatine the highest level. Technically, erstwhile I talk with Pirlo, I see him highly good prepared' Maldini said.

The 47-year-old was keen connected the connection and everything appeared acceptable for him to go Italy's caller boss. However, his relation arsenic an ambassador for Fonbet, the starring Russian sports betting brand, caused the negotiations to stall.

'That decidedly played a role. We did not cognize astir it. Public sentiment did its job. But legally speaking, determination was thing that could person prevented Andrea from becoming the nationalist squad manager. Was it a pretext? I would accidental so. It was blown retired of each proportion. Pirlo was consenting to extremity his narration with the Russian company. He is precise honest. [...] Malago called maine and Leonardo to say: In my view, Pirlo tin nary longer beryllium hired. From today, I determine the manager, and you o.k. it',Maldini recalled.

Maldini's resignation and hopes for the future

Around 24 hours later, Maldini and advisor Leonardo resigned, viewing the concern arsenic 'unacceptable' and believing determination was nary longer capable spot to transportation retired the occupation required, according to Maldini. Shortly afterwards, Roberto Mancini was announced arsenic the caller manager.

The assignment of Mancini went against what Maldini believed was the perfect path. The Italian icon argued that Italian football's full strategy needed to beryllium overhauled, with adjacent attraction paid to the younker setup and each nonrecreational division.

The purpose was to make endowment and instil a caller mentality — a rebuild Maldini estimated could instrumentality betwixt 8 and 10 years.

'I respect Mancini, but we had a antithetic project. We wanted a new, young manager', Maldini said.

The present erstwhile authoritative besides expressed regret astatine being incapable to 'do thing for aboriginal generations and physique a competitory Italy', and said helium hopes Claudio Ranieri, his successor, is fixed the autonomy and tools needed to equilibrium the nationalist squad with the wider rebuild of Italian football.