Manchester City chairman issues Pep Guardiola successor update amid Enzo Maresa talks with Chelsea | OneFootball

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has urged supporters to be patient as the club finalises the appointment of Pep Guardiola’s successor.

The statement comes as compensation talks between City and Chelsea over Enzo Maresca – who has been identified by officials at the Etihad Stadium as the club’s next manager – continue, with the matter currently in the hands of lawyers at both clubs and a formal public announcement still pending.

Maresca departed Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract and Chelsea are understood to be seeking a sizeable fee despite the Italian having not claimed severance upon his resignation.

Maresca is understood to have been chosen by Manchester City with Pep Guardiola‘s personal backing and has been offered a three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, with the outgoing manager’s endorsement having played a significant role in the decision-making process.

Al Mubarak: Be patient, we’ll bring the right manager

Speaking in his customary end-of-season interview with the club’s in-house media team, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak issued an update on the club’s pursuit of a potent replacement for Guardiola.

“What I can say at the moment is we’ve gone through a very thoughtful and structured process and the team is convinced, I am convinced, that we’ll bring the right manager for this club,” Al Mubarak said.

“Just be patient with us. Very soon we’ll announce it and you’ll be very comfortable we’ve selected and brought in the best manager possible for this club.”

What is the wider context for City’s managerial appointment?

Guardiola spoke at length in his farewell appearances about the message he had for his successor, urging them to “be yourself” and promising unconditional support from a club he described as extraordinary in the way it cares for its people.

His personal backing of Maresca suggests the 55-year-old played an active role in shaping the direction of the search – an appointment as important as any the club have made under their Abu Dhabi ownership – given the standards set by Guardiola during his illustrious decade in Manchester.

Director of football Hugo Viana has already been in preliminary contact with Maresca over pre-season and transfer planning, with the summer window opening on June 15 placing increasing urgency on both clubs to resolve the compensation dispute.

City’s confidence that an agreement will be reached imminently remains high and Al Mubarak’s public message on Wednesday reinforces that nothing about the decision itself is in doubt. The only remaining question is when the paperwork gets done.