Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has completed his move to Manchester City. Manchester City have finally agreed to pay Chelsea £17m to sign the Italian as Josep Guardiola’s successor.
Enzo Maresca completes long-term move to Manchester City
Sometimes it’s not what you say that matters, but what or who you refuse to mention.
And in a statement about Enzo Maresca replacing Josep Guardiola as Manchester City’s new manager, his former club Chelsea made their feelings clear.
Not once in 326 words has the London club mentioned the Italian player’s name. There is no mention of his achievements at Stamford Bridge, where he led the team to last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and enabled the Blues to be paraded as ‘world champions’. And as for that last sentence comparing incoming manager Xabi Alonso to Maresca, this just adds to the disgusting and utter condemnation.
A statement from Chelsea said: “Chelsea FC appreciates that the 2025/26 season has been a very disappointing season for the club and its supporters. A key contributing factor was the disruption that occurred as a result of the club being forced to change the head coaching position over the Christmas period. “Due to recent developments, we believe it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why the former head coach left the club on 1 January 2026.”
“Last autumn, the club was informed by its former head coach that there might be an opportunity to replace Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. Despite having a long-term contract with no right to terminate, it became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing that opportunity.”
“In December 2025, our head coach suddenly and unexpectedly resigned from his position. He was clearly disappointed, as we believed his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, even though he had only arrived at Chelsea the year before.”
“No club wants to change their head coach mid-season. However, given his decision not to continue in his responsibilities until the end of the season, the club had no choice but to protect its players, supporters and badge and accept his resignation.” Given the circumstances and the mutual respect between the clubs, a confidential settlement was reached with Manchester City, including the payment of compensation. “We are looking forward to next season. Manager Xabi Alonso is a professional with an outstanding footballing mind and the highest integrity. He has all the qualities to deliver the success that the club’s supporters rightly expect and expect.”
Anger, anger not hidden at all.
Enzo Maresca replaces Pep Guardiola at the Etihad (Image: (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
Maresca had more than three years left on his contract when he left Stamford Bridge in January due to poor form and a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s owners.
City ultimately agreed the terms of a compensation package with Chelsea, allowing Maresca to join. City are thought to have cost £17m to sign the player.
Meanwhile, Maresca sent a message to Chelsea fans on social media, declaring: “At the end of December 2025, I have taken the difficult decision to leave Chelsea. The decision was mine alone. Leaving Chelsea opened the door for me to join Manchester City, a club I knew well. I am really happy to be joining Manchester City.”
“I recognize that leaving Chelsea midway through the season may have caused disruption to the club and I apologize for that. That was not my intention or wish.
“I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and left with memories I will always cherish. I am grateful to the club, owners and fans for the opportunity.”
Maresca was Guardiola’s number two in the 2022-23 season, when City won the treble. He left for Leicester the following summer, with Chelsea paying £8 million to take him from the King Power Stadium to west London.
His subsequent departure from the Foxes, suffering back-to-back relegations, further shows what an impressive job he did in the East Midlands – and shows that his time at Chelsea was certainly a success, even though the supporters were never quite as receptive to him and his style of play on the pitch as Chelsea’s struggles have been over the past six months.
Perhaps that only served to make the aftermath a little bitter.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
