A key target for both Chelsea and Arsenal, Carlo Ancelotti, has been offered the Italian national job.
Italy are still reeling from their failure to qualify for the World Cup this summer. They believe Ancelotti is the right man to take their squad forward for the Euros and next World Cup.
However, both Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in Ancelotti for next season. He has already managed Chelsea in the past.
Per Sky Sport in Italy, Ancelotti met for an hour-and-a-half with the Italian Football Federation's commissioner and sub-commissioner - Roberto Fabbricini and Alessandro Costacurta.
It is unclear whether he will take the job, but he does have a two-year offer on the table.
However, the meeting was played down by Costacurta.
"Carlo was in Rome for personal reasons," he told Sky Sports.
"I always stay in that hotel and we found each other there. We did not talk about the job, we only joked about the opportunity.
"You have to talk about many things, the program and finances, but we could not talk about them. Since we are loyal to the rules, we talked about something else.
"It is true, there is a vision that could see Carlo, like others, on the bench of the national team, but the rules are important and we must follow them.
"The deadline is the 20th May and you know I wouldn't go against the rules. Unfortunately we spoke about something else."