Enzo Maresca confirmed as Manchester City manager on three-year deal

Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as Manchester City’s new manager, the Italian returning to the club where he worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola for 12 months after signing a three-year contract. Chelsea have claimed City paid them £17m in compensation for their former head coach and that Maresca also agreed a personal settlement with the west London club following his departure from there at the start of the year. Maresca has been expected to take over from Guardiola ever since the Spaniard confirmed he would be leaving City but lengthy negotiations were held over recompense Chelsea felt they were due. Chelsea say Maresca notified them of the potential opportunity to replace Guardiola at the end of last season and it was clear he wanted to pursue this. “No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation,” read a Chelsea statement. “A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former Head Coach under which he will pay compensation.” Guardiola’s 10-year spell saw the club win 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League as part of the 2022-23 treble. Maresca was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff when that triumph was secured. …