Didier Deschamps has left the door wide open for a potential move to the Italy national team, hinting that he might be ready for a new challenge after the 2026 World Cup.

The France boss, who named his 26-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, was quizzed about rumors linking him with the Azzurri job. And his response was anything but a firm denial.

"Coach Italy? I am ruling nothing out. Everyone knows I am available. But, for now, I am focused on the World Cup. Perhaps we can talk about it again later. I need to start speaking Italian again, because you never know," Deschamps said with a knowing smile.

It's a tantalizing prospect for Italian football fans. Deschamps has been at the helm of Les Bleus since 2012, leading them to glory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. He nearly repeated the feat in Qatar in 2022, but Argentina pipped them on penalties in one of the most memorable finals in recent history.

What makes this link even more intriguing is Deschamps' deep connection to Italian football. As a player, he spent five seasons with Juventus from 1994 to 1999, winning three Serie A titles and a Champions League. He later returned to Turin as manager for the 2006-07 season, guiding the Bianconeri back to the top flight after the Calciopoli scandal.

Italy, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a new head coach after Gennaro Gattuso's departure. The Azzurri have endured a painful drought on the world stage, failing to qualify for the World Cup since 2014 in Brazil. For a nation with four World Cup titles, that absence has been a constant source of frustration.

Could Deschamps be the man to end that exile? For now, his focus is on France's World Cup campaign. But with Italy calling and his Italian connection already in place, this is a story that will only grow louder in the months ahead.