BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 9: Chelsea FC head coach Enzo Maresca gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC at the Stadio di Bergamo on December 9, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabatini/Getty Images)
Manchester City have issued a statement against Chelsea as the controversy over how and when they approached Italian Enzo Maresca and offered him €20 million in compensation continues to grow.
It was finally announced today that Italian Maresca has been appointed as Manchester City’s new manager, replacing former manager Josep Guardiola on a contract until June 2029.
However, as he resigned on January 1st, his contract with Chelsea had to be terminated by mutual consent.
In a statement this afternoon, the Stamford Bridge club slammed their Premier League rivals and pointed to City’s approach to the manager last autumn.
He was “on a long-term contract and had no right to break”, but did so because he had a job at Manchester City lined up.
Maresca leaves Chelsea after talks with Manchester City
In response, Citi issued its own statement.
“Enzo Maresca has long been considered by the club as a candidate for our succession plan. As a successful former manager within our system, Enzo has a strong relationship with the club’s leadership and understands how we work and evolve.”
“We can confirm that confidential conversations took place between City’s selection representatives and Enzo Maresca during the autumn and winter of 2025, when Enzo Maresca was head coach of Chelsea FC, regarding the possibility of returning to City as interim leadership coach should Josep Guardiola decide to leave the club.”
“We acknowledge Chelsea’s statement regarding the background to Enzo’s departure from Chelsea. We also acknowledge the context in which permission was granted to discuss the matter and recognize that his departure midway through the season has disrupted Chelsea’s season.”
“Following the agreement of terms with Enzo Maresca, Manchester City and Chelsea FC have reached a mutually agreed settlement pursuant to which Chelsea FC will receive compensation.”
The cost of the compensation package is said to be an unusually high 20 million euros, reported by Sky Sports Italia, and later confirmed by various British sources.
Although this appears to be a purely club-to-club matter, Maresca had to separately pay Chelsea compensation for breach of contract.
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