Manchester City are reportedly on the verge of appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor after agreeing a £17million compensation package with Chelsea, reports BritPanorama.
The Italian coach has been City’s preferred candidate since Guardiola concluded his decade-long tenure at the Etihad Stadium at the end of last season. However, negotiations with Chelsea regarding his release clause had dragged on.
According to transfer specialist Gianluca Di Marzio, the two clubs have reached a verbal agreement, enabling Maresca to return to Manchester and take charge of the Premier League champions. He is expected to travel to Manchester shortly to sign a three-year contract.
Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day following a breakdown in relations with the club’s management, despite having over three years remaining on a lucrative deal. Unlike many managerial departures, he resigned rather than being dismissed, walking away from a contract worth around £4million per season, thereby allowing Chelsea to avoid a considerable severance payment.
The former Leicester City boss’s decision meant sacrificing approximately £14m in outstanding wages. Speculation about his dissatisfaction with the club intensified after he described having endured “the worst 48 hours” of his time in London, suggesting his relationship with the board had deteriorated irreparably. Reportedly, Maresca was so discontent that he left without negotiating any compensation settlement.
Chelsea subsequently appointed Liam Rosenior as Maresca’s replacement, but he lasted just three months, enduring a string of five consecutive league defeats without scoring.
For City, Maresca’s anticipated arrival signifies a return to familiar ground. He previously worked as part of Guardiola’s coaching staff, and their close working relationship makes him the frontrunner for one of the most prestigious positions in European football.
Should the transfer be finalised swiftly, Maresca faces the formidable task of succeeding Guardiola and sustaining City’s prominence both in domestic competitions and on the international stage. How they navigate this transitional phase remains to be seen.
