Manchester City is about to confirm the arrival of Italian coach Enzo Maresca, appointed as Pep Guardiola’s successor, after advancing negotiations with Chelsea. The news was initially reported by ESPN UK correspondent Rob Dawson.
Initially, the Manchester club’s plan was to make Maresca’s signing official right after the end of the Premier League. However, this formalization was postponed due to a request for financial compensation from Chelsea, which had dismissed the coach in January.
It is estimated that Chelsea will receive a sum of more than 10 million pounds, which corresponds to approximately R$68.5 million at the current price, to allow Maresca to leave. He had been signed by the London team in June 2024, with a five-year contract.
The choice to succeed Guardiola falls on a name very familiar to Manchester City, which adds value to the signing by indicating a continuity strategy. Enzo Maresca served as coach of the Citizens’ under-23 team during the 2021/22 season and subsequently joined Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff in 2022/23.
It was during this period, as an assistant, that the club achieved the historic Triple Crown, lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies, demonstrating his deep familiarity with the club’s philosophy and methods.