Pep Guardiola exit decided as Manchester City identify Enzo Maresca as next boss | OneFootball

According to a prominent source on X, Pep Guardiola will step down at the end of this season, with everything in place for Enzo Maresca to take over.

The report suggests that Manchester City have quietly prepared for this transition, securing an in-depth agreement with the former Chelsea manager to return to the Etihad.

Enzo Maresca set to takeover the reigns from Pep Guardiola

The report from the prominent source on X, Hands of Arsenal, indicates that the “direction of travel” within the club points toward a definitive exit for Guardiola.

Internal preparations are reportedly so advanced that discussions have even surfaced regarding naming a stand in his honor.

Despite the magnitude of this shift, mainstream sports journalism has remained quiet. The report attributes this silence to Guardiola’s “erratic nature,” suggesting that journalists fear a last-minute U-turn that could jeopardise their professional reputations.

While the club is expected to deny these claims, the framework for the “post-Pep” era is allegedly already finalised, with Maresca identified as the chosen successor to lead the tactical evolution.

Why Enzo Maresca would be a great fit

Maresca is far from a stranger to the inner workings of the City Football Group.

Having served as Guardiola’s assistant during the historic Treble-winning campaign, he possesses an intimate understanding of the club’s philosophy and tactical demands.

His coaching style, often described as “Pep-lite,” emphasises positional play, inverted full-backs, and suffocating possession, elements already deeply embedded in the current squad’s DNA.

By appointing Maresca, City would ensure continuity rather than a volatile rebuild, allowing the squad to transition seamlessly into a new era under a manager who knows the club quite well.

Pep Guardiola’s political stance suggests he is ready to leave Man City

Speculation regarding Guardiola’s departure has intensified, fueled not just by coaching fatigue but by his increasingly vocal stance on global issues.

Guardiola has recently used his platform to address sensitive political topics, including the oppression in Palestine and Sudan.

His comments on Sudan are particularly interesting given his current situation.

His willingness to speak out the Sudan issue, where the geopolitical interests of the club’s ownership indicates a man who is no longer concerned with how it reflects back to the club.

This perceived shift in his public persona aligns with the narrative that he is ready to walk away from the club whose owners have been accused of sponsoring the oppression in Sudan.