Manchester City are on the brink of appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor, with negotiations over a three-year contract now in their final stages. Talks between the club and the Italian tactician have intensified this week, focusing on the finer details of his start date and the composition of his backroom team. After weeks of speculation, an announcement is expected within days, bringing clarity to the Etihad dugout following Guardiola's departure.
Maresca is no stranger to the City setup, having served as Guardiola's assistant during the historic 2022/23 campaign that yielded a Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble. His intimate knowledge of the club's philosophy and personnel made him a leading candidate from the moment Guardiola confirmed his exit. That familiarity extends to several senior players, smoothing what could otherwise be a disruptive transition.
His most recent role, however, ended less harmoniously. Maresca left Chelsea in January under acrimonious circumstances, despite having signed a contract that still had three-and-a-half years to run. The parting was messy, with tensions over transfer policy and squad direction. Chelsea informed him last autumn about City's interest in eventually replacing Guardiola, and that early contact now complicates the legal picture.
Indeed, compensation could be a sticking point. Chelsea's lawyers are monitoring Maresca's next move closely, as the London club believe they are owed a settlement fee. With no formal release clause triggered, City may yet have to negotiate a financial package to free their man. The complexity of these discussions explains why talks are taking slightly longer than anticipated, but both sides remain confident a resolution is imminent.
The changing of the guard at City extends beyond the head coach. The club confirmed on Tuesday that five of Guardiola's long-time assistants—Pep Ljinders, Kolo Toure, Lorenzo Buenaventura, Manel Estiarte, and Xabi Mancisidor—are also heading for the exit. Their departures underscore the scale of the rebuild Maresca must oversee, both in terms of coaching staff and an ageing squad that fell short of its usual standards this season.
Former Arsenal and England forward Paul Merson, speaking to Sky Sports, offered a measured endorsement of Maresca's credentials. He highlighted the Italian's Premier League experience, noting that Maresca's time at Chelsea, while turbulent, proved he could handle top-flight pressure. Merson pointed out that Maresca knows several City players from his assistant days, which should accelerate his bedding-in period. However, he cautioned that the new manager will inherit a team in need of refreshment, especially given the parallel revamps underway at Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United.
That competitive context cannot be overstated. City's rivals are all poised for significant summer spending, and the pool of elite, attainable talent is shrinking. Maresca will not only have to stamp his tactical identity on the squad but also navigate a transfer market where multiple heavyweights are chasing the same targets. His track record of developing young players—honed at Chelsea and before that at Leicester City—may prove crucial in extracting value from a squad that has grown stale.
Guardiola himself, in recent public remarks, avoided confirming his next move but suggested he will take a long break before considering any offer. He spoke of needing to "rest and recover" after years of relentless intensity, and when pressed on the England job, he refused to rule anything out. "I don't have a plan," he said. "After that, we'll see." That ambiguity leaves the door open for a future international role, but for now, his focus is stepping away completely.
As the final paperwork is prepared, City fans can expect a swift unveiling. Maresca's appointment, once finalized, will mark the beginning of a new era—one that seeks to replicate Guardiola's domestic dominance but with a fresh tactical voice. The move also carries symbolic weight: it signals that the City hierarchy still values the Pep-schooled approach, trusting an acolyte to evolve the project rather than tearing it down. With the Champions League qualification secured for next season, the Italian will have a solid platform, but the margin for error in the Premier League has never been slimmer.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.