Enzo Maresca free from Chelsea obligations as Manchester City await Pep Guardiola contract decision | OneFootball

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is free to take on a managerial role this summer, despite certain pending obligations to the Blues amid reports of a potential move to Manchester City, according to talkSPORT.

Maresca stepped down from his role as Chelsea’s manager on January 1 following reported tensions with the club’s owners.

Despite his stint at Stamford Bridge coming to an end, reports have suggested that the Italian coach’s exit package from the Blues includes some remaining contractual obligations to the West London, and his taking on a new role this summer would require both sides to come to an agreement.

With an abrupt end to his managerial tenure, Chelsea reportedly expect compensation once the manager takes on a new job – and it has to be paid by Maresca, not by any other club he joins.

The specifics of this compensation, including the amount, are open to legal interpretation from both parties. However, this does not limit Maresca from taking on a new role elsewhere, even if he is unable to reach a parting settlement with Chelsea before his new appointment.

How was Enzo Maresca’s 18-month stint at Chelsea?

Back in June 2024, Chelsea announced that Maresca would be taking on the role of head coach from July that year with a five-year contract with an option to extend for a further year.

Maresca’s first Premier League win with the Blues came with a 6-2 victory against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium in August 2024.

In his first season at Stamford Bridge, the 46-year-old led his squad all the way in the UEFA Conference League and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, securing UEFA Champions League football for the current campaign.

Maresca was in charge at Chelsea for 92 matches of which the Blues won 55 and drew 16, which made their win percentage under his leadership 59.8%, the highest since Thomas Tuchel‘s tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The former Manchester City assistant coach also led Chelsea to lift the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup trophy by beating that season’s Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in an impressive 3-0 victory in the final in the United States. Maresca’s last match in charge of Chelsea was a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on December 30 2025.

Chelsea co‑owner says Maresca’s change “wasn’t the club’s decision”

Maresca’s departure from Chelsea was officially regarded as a mutual decision, with the club statement mentioning that both parties “believe a change gives the team the best chance”.

It read: “With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track. We wish Enzo well for the future.”

However, last week, at the CAA World Congress of Sports conference, Chelsea’s majority owner Behdad Eghbali remarked that the change in managerial position “wasn’t the club’s decision”.

“The change wasn’t the club’s decision for reasons I can’t speak about legally,” Eghbali said, as quoted by talkSPORT. “I think the reasons will become kind of clear in due course. But no, it’s not a change we wanted to make.

“It’s a change that’s had a bit of a negative impact on the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel. And it’s one we’ve got to fight out our way out of.”

Manchester City in ‘high-level talks’ with Maresca

Recent reports have suggested that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s illustrious stint at the Etihad Stadium is soon nearing its end. While his current contract at City is valid until the summer of 2027, Guardiola will be allowed to decide when he wants to quit on his own.

Maresca’s association with Manchester City dates back to August 2020, when he was hired by the club as manager of their Elite Development Squad, and he won the Premier League 2 title with them.

In June 2022, the Italian returned to Manchester City as one of Guardiola’s assistant managers. City are said to have already initiated contact and held talks with Maresca as a potential successor of Guardiola, who has often praised his managerial skills.

With the club’s previous association and current reported interest, it remains to be seen if Maresca becomes Manchester City’s new manager following Guardiola’s departure.