Leaving Manchester City and Taking a Break from Football? Guardiola Declines Italy's Invitation: Will Rest for a Year First

Since leaving the Manchester City managerial role this summer, Pep Guardiola has received offers from several national teams, but the Catalan coach is clearly in no rush to return. Sources have confirmed that although the Italian Football Federation attempted to invite him to take charge, Guardiola has made it clear he needs at least a full year of rest.

According to foreign media reports this week, Guardiola declined the job offer from the Apennine Peninsula. Earlier media reports noted that after Guardiola ended his tenure at Manchester City, four national teams had reached out to him, with Italy being one of them.

Those close to Guardiola have repeatedly stressed that, given the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager's desire to step away from football for a while, any discussion about immediately taking over the Italian team was never viable from the start. After a decade managing at the top club level, Guardiola is prioritizing his personal life.

The source added that when Guardiola eventually returns to football, he is open to working at the international level — several countries had tested his willingness to come back this summer. However, the source did not provide a specific list of other nations, though the Netherlands and England have both been reported to be interested in Guardiola.

The Italian Football Federation has been searching for a new head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April following a World Cup qualifying playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Italy's new technical director, Paolo Maldini, revealed this week that the federation also approached current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, but Ancelotti has a contract with Brazil until 2030 and will remain in charge even after Brazil was eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

Additionally, former Italy boss Roberto Mancini, who led the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory, 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo, and Antonio Conte have all been linked with the Italy job.