Enzo Maresca has started his new job as Manchester City boss. The Italian has spent time at the club’s training ground this week, getting used to his new surroundings.
Etihad bosses have still to confirm Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s replacement. Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has been thrashing out a compensation deal with Chelsea – who sacked Maresca in January.
But Maresca has wasted no time getting started on the impossible task of following in Guardiola’s footsteps. Maresca has been studying data belonging to each member of his squad.
He will use this to devise pre-season training sessions for when the squad returns to the club next month. Some will head back to Manchester later than others, due to the World Cup in North America. Maresca has agreed a three year deal at the Etihad.
And it’s understood he will meet senior club figures next week to discuss what the expectations of him will be. Guardiola decided to stand down last summer.
But he kept the decision private, with only a few members of his inner circle aware he would be leaving 12 months later. City targeted Maresca six months ago, when it became clear he would be available following his dismissal by Chelsea.
Guardiola won a remarkable 20 trophies during his decade of dominance with City, including the Treble in 2023. Maresca knows he will be on a hiding to nothing once the season kicks off.
View 2 ImagesEnzo Maresca previously served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola(Image: (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
But at least he has been boosted with the news City have struck a British record deal to sign England star Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £116million, which could rise to £130m.
City will embark on their new era without a Guardiola stalwart in Bernardo Silva, who chose to leave upon the expiry of his contract. He’s since joined Real Madrid. John Stones has also left the Etihad.
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