Enzo Maresca places future on hold amid Manchester City job belief | OneFootball

The potential to become Manchester City’s next manager is causing Enzo Maresca to place his own managerial future on hold, according to reports.

Speculation surrounding the long-term future of Pep Guardiola continues to gather pace, with the Catalan now approaching a decade in charge at City. Despite having time remaining on his contract, Guardiola has repeatedly hinted an extended spell away from management may eventually follow his time in Manchester, prompting behind-the-scenes planning.

That uncertainty has inevitably brought renewed focus on potential successors from throughout the European game, with Italian coach Enzo Maresca increasingly viewed as the leading continuity option.

Having previously worked closely under Pep Guardiola during the historic 2022/23 Treble-winning season and overseen Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, the Italian is widely admired for his understanding of the club’s footballing philosophy and tactical framework.

And now, according to a new report from SportsBoom, Enzo Maresca is prepared to wait until the summer before returning to management, when he believes Pep Guardiola could leave Manchester City.

It is claimed that the Italian has already rejected several advances from clubs, with Inter, AS Roma, and Lazio all monitoring his situation in recent months, while his former employers Leicester City sounded him out over a possible temporary return.

But Maresca is said to have instructed representatives to stand firm before assessing his position in the summer amid claims that Pep Guardiola is considering his future at the Etihad Stadium after 10 years in charge.

Maresca has been without a club since his departure from Chelsea – a split that followed internal tension. City, for their part, continue to insist that no decision has been made regarding Guardiola’s future and no formal succession process has begun.

However, with planning for a post-Pep Guardiola era understood to be advancing, Maresca’s willingness to wait only strengthens the belief that he sees the Etihad Stadium as his ultimate destination.

Other names such as Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fàbregas, and Vincent Kompany remain understandably admired, but Maresca’s deep-rooted connection to Manchester City’s structure places him in a uniquely strong position should Pep Guardiola decide to step aside.

For now, Pep Guardiola remains fully focused on his on-pitch objectives and an intense Premier League title race, but with Maresca placing his own career plans on hold, the summer could prove pivotal in shaping the next chapter of Manchester City’s modern history.