Enzo Maresca returns to Manchester City: contract until 2029 is official

Enzo Maresca is the new manager of Manchester City where he took over from Pep Guardiola of whom he had been deputy. The announcement came with a press release: the 46 year old technician from Campania he signed a three-year contract, until the summer of 2029. To bring him back to the Etihad Stadium, the Manchester club, according to the English media, paid approximately 20 million euros “to release him” to Chelsea.

Chelsea’s harsh attack and the manager’s apologies

Right from Stamford Bridge came a harsh statement against Maresca for his departure last December: “In the autumn of last year, the club was informed by our former manager that there could be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season”, wrote Chelsea without even naming Maresca, “it became clear to us that he was fully committed to pursuing this opportunity despite being tied to a long-term contract”.

“In December 2025, our coach resigned unexpectedly and abruptly. Obviously, we felt betrayed as we could not believe that his head and heart were focused on another club.”

The press release does not go into detail but from what filters through a statement has been drawn up confidentiality agreement which led City to pay compensation (of around 20 million euros) and also the coach to compensate the club. Maresca, who at the time had shown himself intolerant of criticism of his play at the club he had led to triumph in the Conference and the Club World Cup in 18 months, released a statement on Instagram which is probably part of the agreed package, explaining that he had made the difficult decision to leave the Blues: “I recognize that my decision to leave Chelsea in the middle of the season caused unrest in the club and for this I apologise. It was neither my intention nor my will.” Maresca had a contract worth 5 million euros gross per year: he left all the money that Chelsea still owed him on the table.

Maresca’s first words and the transfer rumors about Tonali

Per the former midfielder is returning to City: in the 2020-2021 season he coached the Under 23 team and in 2022-2023 he was Guardiola’s technical collaborator. “City are a very well-managed football club,” he noted, “everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, this is a dream situation.” The president of the club, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, officially welcomed him: “He brings a personality, a passion and an intelligence completely aligned with our needs”.

Among the first shots that City could give to Maresca is the Italian Sandro Tonali. After the 130 million invested for Elliot Anderson by Nottingham Forest, in fact, there is talk of an offer of 110 million euros to Newcastle for the former Milan player.