Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

City Pays £17 M, Hires Maresca as Guardiola Successor

6/29/2026

46 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Manchester City paid Chelsea £17 million as compensation for Enzo Maresca’s early contract termination.
Maresca signed a three-year deal to become Manchester City’s manager, succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea publicly blamed Maresca for the club’s disappointing season after his mid-season exit.
Maresca apologized for the disruption his departure caused Chelsea and thanked the club for his time.

History

Historical Context

On 2 June 2004, Roman Abramovich-backed Chelsea signed José Mourinho from FC Porto, paying a £1.7 million compensation fee. The deal marked the start of massive spending—Chelsea spent over £70 million on transfers that season—and signaled a new era where elite clubs routinely paid large sums to secure managers and players, setting a precedent for future high-profile exits.

1 of 2

Story summary

Manchester City paid Chelsea £17 million as compensation for Enzo Maresca’s early contract termination.
Maresca signed a three-year deal to become Manchester City’s manager, succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea publicly blamed Maresca for the club’s disappointing season after his mid-season exit.
Maresca apologized for the disruption his departure caused Chelsea and thanked the club for his time.

1 / 2