Exclusive: Enzo Maresca Holding Out for Manchester City Return, Waiting on Pep Guardiola Exit

Enzo Maresca is prepared to wait until the summer before returning to management, when he believes Manchester City and Pep Guardiola could part company, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

SportsBoom has been told that the Italian, who left Chelsea earlier this season, has already rejected several advances from clubs both at home and abroad since waving goodbye to Stamford Bridge.

Internazionale, Roma and Lazio are understood to have been monitoring Maresca’s situation closely in recent months while Leicester City also sounded him out about a possible return to the KP Stadium before appointing Gary Rowett on a short-term basis. 

The Foxes, who were promoted to the Premier League under the 46-year-old’s stewardship before he was poached by the Londoners, believed the offer of a temporary role could tempt their former box back to the east Midlands in order to assist their battle for Championship survival. 

But Maresca has instructed his representatives to stand firm for at least another three months before assessing his position amid claims that Guardiola is considering his future following a trophy-laden decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium.

Seemless Transition 

Previously a trusted member of his coaching staff at City before striking out on his own, Maresca is a close confidant of the Catalan, who has a habit of taking sabbaticals at key stages of his career. 

Before severing his ties with The Blues, after his relationship with their hierarchy soured, Maresca acknowledged he had been sounded-out about succeeding Guardiola by an agent purporting to be acting on City’s behalf.

Given his knowledge of their working practices and tactical system, the one-time West Bromwich Albion player thinks making that move, despite the pressure of replacing an all-time footballing great, makes his old employers a more attractive destination than either Serie A or another top-flight English team.

Maresca’s thinking could change if an attractive offer from someone like Real Madrid arrives, with the Spaniards exploring the possibility of installing a top level head coach after handing Alvaro Arbeloa the reins following Xabi Alonso’s sacking.

But City is still his preferred destination, after leading Chelsea to the World Club Championship and Europa Conference League titles before his time there came to an end.