Enzo Maresca: Former Chelsea boss apologises for Stamford Bridge exit and will pay compensation as Man City confirm appointment

New Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will pay Chelsea compensation and has apologised to the club as the Blues released an explosive statement criticising his unexpected exit last season.

City have announced the arrival of Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successoron a three-year deal, just under seven months after he left Stamford Bridge in acrimonious circumstances on January 1.

Sky Sports News understands City will pay Chelsea £17m in compensation after Maresca departed the club with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.

In the fiery statement, which was released at the same time as Maresca's appointment was confirmed, Chelsea revealed details of Maresca's sudden exit and how Man City's interest had turned his head.

It read: "In autumn last year, the club was informed by our former head coach [Maresca] that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.

"It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

"In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before."

Maresca apologises for disruptive exit

Following the Italian's departure, Chelsea appointed Liam Rosenior, but he was sacked after just 106 days in charge as the Blues eventually finished the season 10th and without European football.

On his personal Instagram account, Maresca apologised to Chelsea for his exit.

He wrote: "The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City.

"I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish."

Sky Sports News understands that when Chelsea became aware of City's interest, they reluctantly gave Maresca permission to speak to City but only on the understanding that he would leave this summer and only if Guardiola decided to depart City.

Maresca had heart set on City as relationships at Chelsea 'fractured'

Chelsea were informed by Maresca last autumn that he had been the subject of interest from City about eventually replacing Guardiola when he decided to leave, having worked under him as assistant coach during the 2022/23 season.

Chelsea had no option but to accept his resignation at the end of last year because his head and heart were at City. There were many stories about Maresca being unhappy at Chelsea, but the truth is he wanted to go to City.

The statement said: "Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the club and its supporters.

"A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the club was forced to make to the head coach position over the Christmas period."

Maresca was just over a year into his reign at Chelsea after being appointed to the role in June 2024. At the end of October, the club sat in ninth place, two points off the top five.

The relationship with the club fractured as time went on, with poor form, public outbursts to the media and disagreements with the medical staff putting increasing strain on the environment at the club.

After the 2-0 home victory over Everton in mid-December, Maresca stunned reporters by saying he had endured his "worst 48 hours" at the club and said "many people didn't support us".

He then declined several opportunities to expand on his comments.

The last thing Chelsea wanted to do was change head coach mid-season, but they were left with no choice but to part ways.

Maresca's sudden departure

Maresca's sudden exit from the club was confirmed on New Year's Day, with Sky Sports News reporting the Italian felt his position was "untenable".

Chelsea secured just one win across their last seven Premier League games in the build-up to his departure, leaving them 15 points adrift of eventual champions Arsenal at the time.

His final game in charge was Chelsea's 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth, during which the home crowd booed and chanted "you don't know what you're doing" when he substituted Cole Palmer.

The statement continued: "No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season.

"However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the badge and accept his resignation."

The compensation Man City and Maresca will pay

As soon as Guardiola's exit from the Etihad was confirmed, Maresca was the only name being touted as his potential successor.

Having previously worked as his assistant during the treble-winning campaign in 2023, his return to Man City seemed inevitable - but his appointment arrives over a month after Guardiola's departure.

Club lawyers had been locked in negotiations between the two teams as Chelsea felt Maresca's exit from the club was a deciding factor in their underwhelming campaign.

As previously noted, Chelsea finished the 2025/26 season in 10th place and only remained in the top half of the table on goal difference.

The statement confirmed both City and Maresca himself would pay compensation as a result of the situation, after two "confidential settlements" were reached.

The statement said: "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.

"A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former head coach under which he will pay compensation."

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