<ul><li><p>Positive talks at City over the former Chelsea manager </p></li><li><p>Guardiola called him ‘one of the best in the world’</p></li></ul><p>Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to take over at Manchester City as they prepare for the growing possibility of Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season.</p><p>Maresca has been out of work since <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/01/enzo-maresca-leaves-chelsea-breakdown-relations">departing Chelsea in January</a> and it is understood there have been positive talks over him replacing his old mentor this summer. Guardiola has a year on his deal but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/18/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-hard-to-replace-alex-ferguson-manchester-united">City know they must be ready</a> for the 55-year-old deciding this is the time to leave.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/23/maresca-is-top-candidate-if-guardiola-does-quit-manchester-city-this-year">Continue reading...</a>