Chelsea Football Club have confirmed the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca by mutual consent on New Year's Day 2026, a move shrouded in revelation after it emerged the Italian had held clandestine talks with a Premier League rival.
Secret Talks Preceded Stamford Bridge Exit
Enzo Maresca personally informed the Chelsea hierarchy that he had engaged in multiple discussions with another top-flight English club prior to the agreement to end his tenure. Reports from The Athletic indicate these talks were with Manchester City, occurring on at least three separate occasions since late October 2025.
Maresca, who has a past at the Etihad as a former U23 coach and assistant to Pep Guardiola, was contractually obliged to disclose the conversations to Chelsea. It is claimed he spoke with 'people associated with Manchester City' about the potential manager's role, should it become available.
A Tenure of Highs and Rapid Decline
Maresca's exit concludes a brief but eventful 18-month spell in West London. Arriving in the summer of 2024, he secured notable silverware, guiding Chelsea to victory in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in his debut season. The team also clinched Champions League qualification on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign.
However, the current season has unravelled dramatically. Tipped as potential title challengers, Chelsea have won just once in their last seven Premier League matches, slumping to 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. A 2-2 home draw with struggling Bournemouth in Maresca's final game saw the team booed off the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Tensions had been simmering behind the scenes. Maresca had publicly criticised the club's failure to sign a new centre-back following Levi Colwill's ACL injury last summer. Last month, he cited a lack of support from 'many people' at the club, calling it his 'worst 48 hours' in the job. His decision to wear his own clothing instead of official club tracksuits was seen as another sign of discord.
Guardiola Succession Speculation and Chelsea's Next Steps
The talks with Manchester City centre on speculation that Pep Guardiola will end his long association with the club next summer. Maresca has been frequently mentioned as a potential successor in the future. Ironically, Chelsea's first match post-Maresca is against Manchester City.
In an official statement, Chelsea thanked Maresca for his contributions, stating the mutual decision was made to give the team 'the best chance of getting the season back on track' with key objectives in four competitions still active. Despite the recent links, Maresca had publicly dismissed the Manchester City rumours as '100% speculation' just weeks ago, insisting his focus was solely on Chelsea.
