According to reports from multiple media outlets, Man City is close to officially appointing Enzo Maresca as manager, with both sides having largely agreed on compensation.
Presenter: First, let's look at the latest developments. Sky Sports Italia reports that Man City are close to appointing Maresca as their new manager. Kaveh Solhekol is reporting live from Boston. Kaveh, we have been expecting this appointment, but why has the deal taken so long to complete?
Good question. Many people might assume Maresca is a free agent. So why has this dragged on? He only left Chelsea at the start of this year. Logically, appointing him as Man City's new manager should be straightforward, but it is important to remember that he still has contractual obligations to Chelsea. When he departed Chelsea—it was announced on New Year's Day—he unilaterally terminated his contract with the club, despite having three and a half years remaining.
Furthermore, Chelsea believe he was approached last autumn about the possibility of replacing Guardiola this summer. Chelsea's position is therefore clear: he has contractual obligations to us, and we will not simply tear up his contract to allow him to manage Man City. We must protect our interests, strictly adhere to the terms of the contract, and ensure our rights are safeguarded in any negotiations.
That is why, in recent weeks, the two clubs and their lawyers have been negotiating to reach a compromise. This afternoon, our Italian colleagues reported that a verbal agreement has been reached. Man City will pay Chelsea 20 million euros (approximately 17 million pounds) to appoint Maresca as manager, and the deal is expected to be finalized soon.
What kind of manager will Maresca be at Man City? He is someone the club knows well—he studied under Guardiola and was part of his coaching staff during Man City's treble-winning season. Everyone is familiar with his coaching style, which Man City clearly believes aligns with the way they want to play. However, there was indeed controversy surrounding his Chelsea departure, with strained relationships behind the scenes between him and key figures at the club. That said, he performed well overall at Chelsea. Although some fans did not appreciate his style, he led Chelsea back to the Champions League, won the UEFA Conference League, and lifted the Club World Cup last summer.
Presenter: There may be further developments in this matter in the coming days.
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