Manchester City are reportedly nearing the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager, with a three-year deal understood to be close to finalisation. This development comes one month after Pep Guardiola announced his departure from the club following a decade in charge. Maresca, a former Chelsea head coach, is expected to succeed Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
Reports indicate that a verbal agreement has been reached between all parties involved. City is expected to pay Chelsea a compensation fee for Maresca, who was under contract with the London club until 2029 before his departure in January. The compensation package is understood to be in excess of £10m, with some reports suggesting it could be more than £17m.
Maresca is anticipated to travel to Manchester within the next 24 hours to sign his contract. Both Manchester City and Chelsea have declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Compensation and Contractual Matters
Chelsea is seeking compensation from Manchester City, alleging that Maresca breached his contract at Stamford Bridge by engaging in discussions with City while still managing the club. Maresca reportedly informed Chelsea of approaches from both City and Napoli last winter, leading to his resignation on New Year’s Day.
Chelsea maintains that they are entitled to compensation for the loss of Maresca, whose departure reportedly destabilised their season, culminating in a 10th-place finish in the Premier League and missing out on European qualification. Despite these issues, a positive relationship between the two clubs suggests an amicable agreement is likely.
The London club previously paid Leicester £8m in compensation to secure Maresca’s release two years ago. They also made a multi-million-pound payment to Strasbourg in January for Liam Rosenior, Maresca’s replacement. While Chelsea reportedly possesses evidence that could lead to reporting City to the Premier League for an alleged illegal approach, they currently have no plans to do so and are continuing negotiations.
A separate legal claim against Maresca for alleged breach of contract by Chelsea is also being considered, though this is likely to be dropped if an agreement with City is reached. Negotiations between the clubs are continuing to finalise the details of the financial settlement.
Maresca’s Background and City’s Transition
Maresca has a history with Manchester City, having served as Guardiola’s assistant during the club’s treble-winning season in 2023. He also led City’s Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in the 2020/21 season. His previous managerial roles include leading Chelsea to the Club World Cup title last summer and the UEFA Conference League.
He departed Chelsea on New Year’s Day by mutual consent, having left the club in fifth place in the Premier League table at that time. Maresca’s experience within the City setup is seen as a factor that could facilitate a seamless transition following Guardiola’s departure. Guardiola left the Etihad at the end of the 2025/26 season after a decade, during which City secured 17 major trophies.
City players not involved in World Cup action are expected to return for pre-season training in mid-July. The absence of a confirmed manager has left some players considering their future in limbo, as they have yet to meet the new boss for discussions. However, transfer activities are continuing, with City reportedly pursuing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with Maresca’s presumed blessing as the club looks to replace departing captain Bernardo Silva.
The club’s strong appeal as a winning project, offering opportunities for immediate silverware and top-tier facilities, is expected to remain a significant draw for players, irrespective of the head coach. Maresca is eager to begin his work for the club as soon as possible.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
