When Juventus manager Igor Tudor was dismissed, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was one of the first names linked to the vacancy.
Maresca’s first season at Chelsea went about as well as one could have hoped, winning two pieces of silverware and bringing the Blues back to the Champions League.
After a long period of instability on the pitch and off it, the Italian has brought a calm to Stamford Bridge and looks capable of pushing on.
The allure of a certain Serie A giant raised concerns over Maresca, with many worrying that he would be tempted to return to his old club. But a fresh update suggests fans can relax, as Juventus seem to have found their man.
Enzo Maresca running a Chelsea training session at Cobham
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Juventus reach agreement with Luciano Spalletti amid links to Enzo Maresca
When the links emerged, Chelsea fans did not want Maresca to leave, and understandably so.
In his short spell at the Bridge, he has shown an ability to coach against the very best and manage a squad of young talents with little experience.
Thankfully, a Fabrizio Romano update has cleared up his future.
🚨🤍🖤 Luciano Spalletti has agreed to become new Juventus manager, deal in place.
Verbal agreement until June 2026 plus option to extend based on Champions League spot to reach this season.
Formal steps/contracts being checked by lawyers before signing all documents. ✍🏼 pic.twitter.com/qfQ4txlVxz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 29, 2025
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Juventus are in the final stages of an agreement with Spalletti, who departed the Italy national team after two years in charge.
That’s a more attractive proposition. Chelsea would have commanded a huge fee to release Maresca.
Chelsea need to hold onto Maresca
As we all know, Chelsea has been a volatile club to be at in recent seasons. Since the change of ownership, there has been a hectic nature to goings-on at Stamford Bridge that has made it difficult to find sustained success.
If last season was the audition, Maresca smashed it. He has displayed an ability to outcoach experienced managers in big games and to go the distance in knockout competitions.
Enzo Maresca head coach of Chelsea lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The next phase of Blueco’s Chelsea strategy will see the flow of young talent only increase and having a coach who knows how to — and likes to — coach young players with heaps of potential will make him an integral part of the project.
Juventus was probably the club most likely to turn Maresca’s head, but their decision to turn to Spalletti suggests the Chelsea boss is in it for the long haul.