Pep Guardiola was close to coaching Italy
Pep Guardiola, former Barcelona coach, was close to accepting the Italian national team coaching job. According to Paolo Maldini, the former Italian national team director, Guardiola was very tempted to accept the job and even wrote the lineup on a piece of paper.
Why did he turn it down?
The reason why Guardiola turned down the job is that he was tired after ten exhausting years in the Premier League. He had undergone back surgery and wanted to rest.
Current situation of Barcelona
Currently, Barcelona is in a good situation in the league. In the final table of the 2024-2025 season, they were in first place with 79 points, 26 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses in 31 games. Currently, they have scored 84 goals and received 30 goals, giving them a +54 goal difference.
Upcoming Barcelona matches
Barcelona has their next match at home against Levante on February 21, 2027. Currently, Frenkie de Jong is injured.
Conclusion
Pep Guardiola was close to accepting the Italian national team coaching job, but ultimately turned it down due to his exhaustion. Currently, Barcelona is in a good situation in the league and has an important upcoming match at home against Levante.
