Man City boss Pep Guardiola would endorse former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as his replacement, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano was keen to emphasise that no decision has been made on the manager’s future yet, but he did confirm Guardiola is a “big fan” of Maresca, and the Italian is one of the “potential candidates” being lined up for the job:
“Is there a chance that Guardiola leaves Manchester City in the summer? Yes, there are possibilities. This is the feeling in the country, and this is the feeling of people involved in the story. So, there is a possibility to see Pep leaving. Yes, but it’s not something 100% decided, it’s not something already communicated, it’s not something guaranteed at this stage. It’s still February, it’s early, so let’s see later on what’s going to happen.”
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“I think the final outcome of this season in the Premier League, in the Champions League, is also going to be important to see how Pep will react. So, what Manchester City have been doing is to check on potential candidates in case Pep decides to leave at the end of the season because Manchester City know that there is this possibility, but Manchester City have not received any official communication from Pep. So we have to keep this option open…”
“When you ask me about Manchester City and the Manchester City job, the name I keep mentioning to you is still Enzo Maresca, and Enzo Maresca is available, obviously. I’m talking about eventually, at the end of the season, but for the future in general, and Maresca is a candidate that Manchester City have been considering for a long time. Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Enzo Maresca as a young, talented manager. Enzo Maresca knows Manchester City, used to work at Manchester City, has Premier League experience, won trophies actually with Manchester City, with Chelsea, and so Manchester City are very aware of the situation.”
Maresca and Guardiola have worked together
As Romano points out, the ex-Chelsea boss has already spent some time at the Etihad Stadium. He managed the Development Squad during the 2020/21 season before taking the Parma job.
Maresca then returned for a second stint in the summer 2022, replacing Juanma Lillo as Guardiola’s assistant. He left for a second time to become Leicester City’s head coach before the 2023/24 campaign.
He has been contacted by Man City several times
Romano is by no means the only respected journalist who has linked Maresca with the City job in recent months. The Athletic‘s David Ornstein revealed at the beginning of January that the 45-year-old had held three separate meetings with intermediaries representing the Cityzens.
Maresca is just one of several candidates under consideration. Both Como boss Cesc Fabregas and former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso are also highly regarded, but doubt has been cast on a move being made for club legend Vincent Kompany.
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