With Enzo Maresca being confirmed as Manchester City manager, we take a look at how a chaotic few weeks at Stamford Bridge left to him departing as Chelsea head coach
It feels like closure. Finally, that feeling so many crave after a messy break-up. Chelsea now have it. Enzo Maresca now has it.
The Italian’s inevitable appointment at Manchester City was confirmed on Monday afternoon, with the Citizens announcing a three-year contract for the former Blues head coach. Chelsea and City reached a settlement worth, sources say, £17million after Maresca was alleged to have breached part of his Blues contract back in December of last year.
Maresca spoke to Man City behind the scenes when he learned about the potential departure of his close friend Pep Guardiola. City discussed the soon-to-be vacant role with Maresca and Chelsea gave their head coach permission to. That, however, was only if it was about replacing Guardiola at the end of the season – not midway through the campaign.
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Sources close to Chelsea describe how Maresca’s behaviour and mindset changed after talks were had with City. Chelsea felt “let down” at Maresca’s actions and felt as if his head and heart were away from Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has now apologised for how the situation unfolded, and has also paid Chelsea an undisclosed fee, writing an apology on his Instagram page: “At the time of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea. The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic I have now joined Manchester City.
“I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.
“I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure. I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for giving me the opportunity.”
Chelsea’s feelings were summed up in the club’s remarkable statement following Maresca’s appointment at City. In a 326-word write-up, not once did the club even name Maresca directly; instead referring to the Italian as the “former head coach”. There is an enormous sense of ill feeling between Chelsea and Maresca – and that has been amplified with the Battle of the Statements.
The Blues want to move on from all this: “Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a Manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity,” the final paragraph of the statement read. “He has all the attributes to deliver the success the Club’s supporters deserve and expect.”
Maresca gave Chelsea some very good times – nobody can take away the Conference League final victory in Wroclaw, the Club World Cup final win in New Jersey, but the ill feeling between the two parties cannot be ignored. Chelsea are confident that in Alonso, they will not be seeing a repeat, or anything of the like, anytime soon.
