Italy open talks with Pep Guardiola as Azzurri prepare to break the bank for former City boss

Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola seems to be looking for a new job.

Italian football federation head Giovanni Malago has confirmed he held discussions with Pep Guardiola over the vacant national team job, though he admitted he remains uncertain whether the legendary manager will take the helm.

In an interview published by Cronache di Spogliatoio on Wednesday, Malago revealed that the federation was willing to break its usual financial structure to land the 55-year-old former Manchester City boss.

When asked if the coach's salary cap could be stretched specifically for Guardiola, Malago was clear: "Yes, and that is the exception for obvious reasons. I won't go into detail here, but it's not sure that this will come about. However, I still believe it was the right thing to do. It was important to open a dialogue and keep it alive."

Guardiola, who stepped down at Manchester City at the end of last season following a trophy-laden decade that included six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown, has prior experience in Italian football.