Enzo Maresca informs Chelsea of Manchester City talks on THREE occasions | OneFootball

Departed Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca informed his former employers of talks with Manchester City on three separate occasions, it has been revealed.

Speculation surrounding Maresca’s long-term future intensified amid City’s ongoing internal succession planning for Pep Guardiola, with the Italian tactician referenced in recent reports as a highly-regarded figure within the Etihad Stadium hierarchy.

Manchester City, however, remain without a managerial vacancy, with Guardiola contracted until the summer of 2027 and fully engaged in sporting decisions as well as solely focussed on events during the ongoing campaign.

Enzo Maresca’s name has continued to surface due to his previous work under Guardiola within City’s coaching structure and his philosophical alignment with the Catalan’s positional principles.

And now, with Maresca leaving his position at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day, question marks over his future will intensify particularly the longer it goes without firm clarity as to whether Pep Guardiola will remain in position at the Etihad beyond the ongoing season.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Enzo Maresca informed Chelsea – twice in late October and again in mid-December – he was talking to people associated to Manchester City about his candidacy for the managerial position if and when a future vacancy arises.

It is confirmed that such conversations with the Chelsea hierarchy were something the Italian coach was contractually obliged to do in relation to talks with any other club.

The disclosure adds further weight to earlier reporting that City maintain a long-standing admiration for Enzo Maresca, with reports previously indicating he sits high on an internal shortlist should Pep Guardiola decide to step aside.

Importantly, those reports stressed that Pep Guardiola himself would be involved in succession discussions when the time comes, despite the Catalan publicly denying such an idea in recent media duties.

From Manchester City’s perspective, there is no urgency. Guardiola’s focus remains firmly on competing for major honours and shaping recruitment strategy, while Hugo Viana continues to compile contingency plans rather than pursue active negotiations.