Manchester City have reached a total verbal agreement with Enzo Maresca to become the club’s next manager, following the shocking revelation that Pep Guardiola will step down at the end of the current campaign.
According to a report by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, the Italian tactician has accepted an initial three-year contract to take the reins at the Etihad Stadium.
The bombshell news regarding Guardiola’s departure broke ahead of the final weekend of the Premier League season, with various media outlets, including The Athletic and the BBC, confirming that the legendary manager will oversee his final match on Sunday against Aston Villa.
While Guardiola still has 12 months remaining on his contract, the 55-year-old has made the internal decision to call time on his glittering decade-long spell in Manchester.
Manchester City hierarchy quickly moved for Maresca, identifying him as the absolute priority and natural heir due to his deep tactical alignment with the club’s philosophy.
The appointment represents a major homecoming for Maresca, who previously guided City’s Elite Development Squad to a Premier League 2 title in 2021 before serving as Guardiola’s trusted assistant coach during the historic 2022–23 Treble-winning season.
Sky Sports highlights that Maresca has been unattached since parting ways with Chelsea in January, making the negotiations remarkably seamless.
With a verbal agreement now completely locked in, the focus shifts to a massive summer transition.
Speculation is already mounting over his transfer targets, with The Mirror reporting that Maresca could potentially look to raid his former club, Chelsea, to bolster City’s squad for the post-Guardiola era.
