Enzo Maresca has reached an agreement in principle to become the next manager of Manchester City should Pep Guardiola depart this summer, according to transfer reporter Nicolo Schira.
Speculation surrounding Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium has increased in recent months, though the current City manager has not yet made a formal decision regarding his position after ten years with the club. Manchester City are currently focused on securing a domestic treble, having already lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and are competing with Arsenal for the Premier League title.
The potential deal with Maresca is reportedly an initial two-year contract, extending to 2028 with an option for a further year, but is contingent on Guardiola’s final decision. Maresca previously served as a coach under Guardiola at City, managing the under-23 side to a Premier League 2 title and working as an assistant manager in 2022.
Maresca’s managerial career also includes a successful season at Leicester City, where he secured promotion from the Championship, and a recent stint at Chelsea. He led Chelsea to both the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup titles during his first campaign, but resigned in January following reported tensions with the club’s board. These tensions stemmed, in part, from revelations in December that Maresca had engaged in discussions with Manchester City regarding the potential managerial vacancy.
Manchester City are not expected to make any official announcement until after their final match of the season against Aston Villa on May 24, mindful of the ongoing Premier League title race and Guardiola’s unresolved future. The club is prioritizing the current campaign before addressing the managerial situation definitively.
This appointment would represent a continuation of the club’s commitment to a possession-based, attacking style of play, given Maresca’s background and tactical alignment with Guardiola.
