Revealed: Sacked Enzo Maresca Told Chelsea He Was Talking to Man City on Two Separate Occasions

Extraordinary Details Emerge About Enzo Maresca, Chelsea Exit and Pep Guardiola Succession Plans at Manchester City

Football rarely lacks drama, but even by Premier League standards, the story surrounding Enzo Maresca, Chelsea and Manchester City is an extraordinary one. The Italian coach’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day was already a headline-grabbing moment. Now, fresh details have emerged that add another layer of intrigue — and controversy — to his short but turbulent spell in west London.

It has been revealed that Maresca had informed Chelsea on two separate occasions that he was in discussions with people connected to Manchester City about the possibility of one day succeeding Pep Guardiola. Not once, but twice. At a club as sensitive to optics and loyalty as Chelsea, that admission was always going to raise eyebrows.

Maresca is now out of work, reflecting on what went wrong at Stamford Bridge, while quietly waiting for the next opportunity. Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to prepare for a future that, sooner or later, may not include Guardiola on the touchline.

Enzo Maresca and His Deep Roots at Manchester City

To understand why Maresca even features in conversations about Guardiola’s successor, you have to go back a few years. His connection to Manchester City is not a superficial one.

Maresca first arrived at the Etihad as a coach during the 2020-21 season, taking charge of City’s Elite Development Squad. That spell was widely regarded as a success, not only in terms of results but also in how closely his ideas aligned with the club’s broader footballing philosophy. Possession-based play, positional discipline, and an obsession with detail — all hallmarks of Guardiola’s City.

After a brief and ultimately unsuccessful stint as head coach of Parma, Maresca returned to Manchester, this time as one of Guardiola’s assistants. Working daily alongside one of the most influential managers in modern football only enhanced his reputation inside the club.

Those years built trust. And in elite football, trust lingers long after someone leaves.

Chelsea v FC Internazionale – Pre-Season Friendly

Manchester City’s Quiet Planning for Life After Guardiola

Pep Guardiola’s future has been a topic of conversation for several seasons now. His current contract runs until the summer of 2026, but there is a growing sense inside the game that this may be his final chapter at the Etihad.

According to reports, City are already drawing up contingency plans. Not because Guardiola has made a final decision, but because that’s how the club operates — methodically, discreetly, and always one step ahead.

There is said to be “a growing anticipation” that the 2025-26 campaign could be Guardiola’s last. Crucially, no final call is expected until much closer to the end of the season. That uncertainty forces City to keep options open, and Maresca remains one of the names admired within the hierarchy.

Former captain Vincent Kompany, now coaching Bayern Munich alongside Harry Kane, is also firmly in the frame. City like familiarity. They value shared ideology. And they are keen to preserve continuity rather than gamble on a complete stylistic overhaul.

The Chelsea Bombshell: Maresca’s Two Admissions

What makes this story truly remarkable is not City’s interest, but how openly Maresca handled it while employed by Chelsea.

According to detailed reporting, Maresca informed Chelsea twice — once in late October and again in mid-December — that he was speaking with people connected to Manchester City about a potential future vacancy.

Legally, he did the right thing. Contractually, he was obliged to disclose any talks with other clubs. Politically, however, it was a risky move.

Chelsea’s hierarchy are known for many things, but patience and sentimentality are not usually among them. Hearing that their head coach was already discussing a possible exit — especially to a domestic rival — was unlikely to go down well.

Even if those talks were informal, even if they were about a hypothetical future beyond 2026, the timing was awkward. Chelsea were inconsistent on the pitch, pressure was mounting, and Maresca’s authority was already being questioned.

Public Frustration and a Relationship That Soured

Maresca did little to ease tensions when, in mid-December, he spoke publicly about a lack of “support” at Chelsea. Those comments were interpreted by some as honest, by others as naïve. Inside the club, they reportedly did not land well.

Yes, Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals shortly after. Yes, Maresca had delivered trophies earlier in his tenure and secured Champions League qualification with a young squad. But football decisions are rarely based on trophies alone.

A run of three Premier League matches without a win, coupled with growing fan unrest, proved costly. The final straw came with a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, a game that ended with the home crowd booing their own team.

Within hours, Maresca’s fate was sealed.

Chelsea’s Decision and Manchester City’s Watchful Eye

From Chelsea’s perspective, the decision was about control and direction. The club felt the project had stalled, and doubts about long-term commitment only intensified concerns.

From Manchester City’s point of view, the situation was handled differently. Guardiola himself has publicly praised Maresca in glowing terms, calling him “one of the best managers in the world” and insisting his work at Chelsea “did not get enough credit.”

That endorsement matters. Guardiola does not hand out compliments lightly, especially when it comes to coaching peers. His words suggest that Maresca remains highly regarded at the Etihad, regardless of how his Chelsea spell ended.

City are also aware that Guardiola tends to make future decisions late. With Financial Fair Play charges still unresolved and no verdict yet delivered, stability remains a priority. Interestingly, it is believed that the ongoing FFP case has no bearing on Guardiola’s own thinking — another sign that City are separating football strategy from legal uncertainty.

What Comes Next for Enzo Maresca?

Pep Guardiola Enzo Maresca

For now, Maresca waits. At 45, his coaching career is far from over. Winning silverware at Chelsea, even briefly, enhanced his CV, not damaged it. Yet his openness about talks with Manchester City may make some clubs cautious.

He is seen as a modern coach with clear ideas, but also as someone still learning how to navigate the political realities of elite football. Timing, as ever, is everything.

If Guardiola does eventually step aside, Maresca’s name will almost certainly resurface. Whether he is the chosen successor remains to be seen, but the groundwork — intentional or not — has already been laid.

A Story of Ambition, Transparency and Risk

This saga says a lot about modern football. Managers are planners. Clubs are planners. Everyone is thinking two or three years ahead. But transparency, while admirable, can be dangerous in an industry driven by perception.

Maresca followed the rules. He informed Chelsea. He did not hide conversations. Yet honesty did not save his job.

As Chelsea move on and Manchester City quietly prepare for an uncertain future without Guardiola, one thing is clear: Enzo Maresca’s story is far from finished. And when the next chapter is written, these extraordinary details may be seen not as a mistake — but as an early glimpse into what was always coming.