Enzo Maresca is back at Chelsea and looking to bring a top player from Man City.
Enzo Maresca is all set to shake things up at Manchester City by bringing in one of Chelsea’s top players as his first signing as the new City manager.
After ten amazing years at City, where Pep Guardiola helped the team win 17 big trophies—including six Premier League titles and a Champions League—he’s now left the club. Filling Guardiola’s shoes is no small task for whoever takes over.
Although City hasn’t officially announced their new manager yet, many believe that former Chelsea boss Maresca will soon be named Guardiola’s replacement. With stars like Bernardo Silva and John Stones leaving, and other key players possibly moving on, Maresca will probably have a big budget to bring in fresh talent.
One player Maresca really wants to sign is defender Marc Cucurella, who he coached for 18 months at Chelsea. Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto says City are interested in the Spain international, who has been a key player for Chelsea since joining in August 2022.
After Maresca’s unexpected departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day, Cucurella spoke highly of him. He told The Athletic in March, “With Enzo Maresca in charge, we were more stable because we worked together for 18 months. It took some time to understand his system, but by the end, we played almost by heart. Winning the Club World Cup with him really helped us bond. When a manager trusts you and gives you a chance to win, you’d do anything for him.”
Cucurella admitted the manager’s exit was tough on the team and said, “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have made that decision.”
However, City already have strong left-back options like Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Josko Gvardiol. Signing Cucurella, which could cost over £50 million, might raise some questions. Plus, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also interested, so City could face tough competition if they go after him.
But Cucurella isn’t the only Chelsea player Maresca wants. Reports say midfielder Enzo Fernandez is another top target for City. Maresca and Fernandez have a close, trusting relationship from their time winning trophies together, and talks might already have started.
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea for a club-record £105 million in 2023, has been impressive with 15 goals and 7 assists in 53 games this season.
It looks like Maresca is ready to bring some familiar faces to City as he starts his new chapter in Manchester!