Guardiola to Italy? Former Azzurri Star Makes Bold Suggestion After World Cup Miss

"Right now, dreaming is free." Those were the words from Leonardo Bonucci at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, where the former Italian defender floated Pep Guardiola's name as a potential successor to lead the Azzurri.

On the surface, it sounds like fantasy. But when it comes from a Euro 2020 champion who recently served as an assistant to Rino Gattuso, the suggestion carries more weight. Bonucci has an insider's perspective on Italy's football structure, and he's clearly convinced it needs a major shakeup.

Italy has now failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. It's the second time in eight years the four-time champions will miss football's biggest tournament. With a new Italian Football Federation president set to be elected on June 22, the debate over who should lead the national team forward is heating up. Names like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, and Roberto Mancini are circulating — a collection of safe, predictable choices that represent the same thinking that's contributed to this decade of disappointment.

Guardiola's Italian roots run deeper than you think

Let's address the elephant in the room: the money doesn't work. Guardiola reportedly earns around €25 million annually at Manchester City, where he has another year remaining on his deal and is chasing two more trophies this season. The Italian federation simply doesn't have that kind of budget.

But the emotional connection is undeniable. Guardiola moved to Brescia back in 2001 before later joining Roma, where he developed a profound relationship with manager Carlo Mazzone — someone the Catalan tactician has repeatedly identified as one of the most influential figures in his coaching philosophy. His ties to Italy haven't faded with time. He's returned to Brescia multiple times in recent years, and this past February, he was seen watching a third-tier Lega Pro match with the same intensity he'd bring to Champions League action. That's not just a trip down memory lane. That's genuine affection for Italian football.

The real question is whether that affection could convince him to leave the club game at the height of his career. Guardiola has never managed an international side. The job is fundamentally different — less day-to-day involvement, extended periods between matches, and no transfer market to mould your squad. For a manager who meticulously controls every training session detail, surrendering that level of influence is a substantial sacrifice.

Italy's problem isn't just about tactics

There's a legitimate argument for thinking outside the box. Italy's struggles aren't purely tactical — they're cultural and systemic. This is the country that invented defensive football and produced Arrigo Sacchi's revolutionary AC Milan, yet the national team now gets eliminated from World Cup qualifying by teams they should comfortably defeat. What Italy needs isn't just another coach who'll adjust formations — they need someone who can transform the entire mentality.

That's precisely why the Guardiola conversation matters, even if it never materializes. His financial expectations alone make any realistic negotiation virtually impossible. But the discussion it's generating — about whether Italy should pursue a true outsider rather than another familiar face — is exactly what the federation should be debating.

Bonucci laid it out clearly: "If there's genuine intent to rebuild from the ground up, I'd start with the possibility of bringing in Guardiola. That would signal a complete break from everything that's happened recently."

Italy's prospects for the 2028 European Championship and future tournaments will look drastically different depending on whether the federation chooses ambition or safety on June 22. Currently, playing it safe seems to be the preference. That approach has already delivered two straight World Cup failures.