Manchester City’s plans to usher in a new era under Enzo Maresca have been delayed by an ongoing compensation dispute with Chelsea, despite growing confidence that the Italian will eventually replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola announced in May that he would step down as City manager, prompting the club to accelerate its search for a successor. Maresca quickly emerged as the preferred candidate, with the former Chelsea boss viewed internally as the ideal figure to lead the next chapter of the club’s evolution.
Although an official appointment has yet to be confirmed, sources indicate Maresca has already been involved in behind-the-scenes discussions regarding recruitment plans and squad development alongside sporting director Hugo Viana.
The biggest obstacle remains compensation.
Manchester City had expected negotiations with Chelsea to be relatively straightforward after Maresca’s departure from Stamford Bridge earlier this year. Those close to the coach believed there had been an understanding that Chelsea would not demand a significant payment should he take up another managerial role.
Chelsea, however, have strongly rejected that interpretation.
The London club maintain that Maresca remained under contract and insist that any move away from Stamford Bridge must involve compensation that reflects the terms of his agreement. His deal reportedly included provisions that could have kept him tied to Chelsea until 2030.
That difference in interpretation has created frustration within Manchester City’s hierarchy.
Sources suggest City officials believed Maresca would be available without a major financial hurdle and have been irritated by the prolonged nature of the negotiations. While permission was granted for discussions over personal terms, the compensation issue has remained unresolved for weeks.
Despite the impasse, talks between the two clubs have continued and progress is reportedly being made toward a final settlement.
Chelsea have remained firm throughout the process and are understood to have rejected suggestions of a reduced fee. The club’s stance has been consistent from the beginning, with executives determined to secure what they regard as fair compensation before allowing the appointment to be completed.
Behind the scenes, sporting director Hugo Viana has played a leading role in pursuing Maresca. Sources indicate he identified the Italian as his preferred managerial candidate as early as January and has remained committed to bringing him to Manchester City despite the complications.
Importantly, neither side expects the move to collapse.
There remains a strong belief that Maresca will become City’s next manager, with discussions now focused on resolving the remaining financial details. Once an agreement is reached, an official announcement is expected before the end of the month.
For now, Manchester City are still waiting to formally unveil Guardiola’s successor, but confidence remains high that Maresca will soon take charge as the club begins a new chapter following one of the most successful managerial eras in football history.
