It has long been touted, but Enzo Maresca is set to become Manchester City manager this summer and replace Pep Guardiola. Maresca is City’s only candidate, and Chelsea have an issue with it.
After 10 long trophy-laden years, Guardiola is set to leave Man City in the summer. City’s final two games of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa will prove to be Guardiola’s last two games in charge.
Do you think Chelsea should have parted with Enzo Maresca?🤔
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on Enzo Maresca
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David Ornstein reported the news that Guardiola is set to leave his post this summer. Reports say that City are only considering Maresca as his replacement, with the Italian having worked under Guardiola.
Indeed, Maresca plied his trade as Guardiola’s assistant before joining Leicester City as manager and winning promotion from the Championship before Chelsea plucked the former Parma boss in 2024.
Chelsea have an issue with Man City hiring Enzo Maresca
Maresca starred in his first season as Chelsea manager, qualifying for the Champions League before lifting the Conference League trophy. In the summer of 2025, Maresca guided Chelsea to the Club World Cup.
But things started to deteriorate in his second season, and while Chelsea had been good in spells, the gaffer questioned BlueCo’s interference and the power of the medical department. He was forced out.
Pep Guardiola of Man City and Enzo Maresca of Chelsea
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Interestingly, Maresca officially resigned and wasn’t sacked by Chelsea, and that now means the Blues are requesting compensation from Man City if the current title holders do end up appointing Maresca.
BBC reporter Nizaar Kinsella posted: “Chelsea believe compensation is due after Maresca walked out of the club in January. It’s unclear how much, how it will be resolved or when but that’s the situation.”
How much compensation was paid to Maresca after exit…
Maresca put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Chelsea in the summer of 2024. It meant he had three and a half years remaining on his contract when he decided to leave his post as Stamford Bridge boss.
You Chelsea fans seem to be missing Enzo Maresca!
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Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior poll results
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It also meant Maresca missed out on a huge compensation fee. Instead, reports at the time said that Chelsea agreed a compensation fee of just £4.3m. Of course, a lot of cash, but it could have been more.
Now, BlueCo and Chelsea’s hierarchy believe that because Maresca was not sacked, parts of their deal with the Italian still stands and because of that, they believe they are due compensation from Man City.
Whether it gets resolved and City agrees to pay Chelsea a fee and push forward with the hiring of the former Blues manager remains to be seen. For now, Guardiola’s exit has not even been confirmed.
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