The new Manchester City manager is preparing to “rob” his former club.
Enzo Maresca is ready to plunder Chelsea and bring in one of their best players as his first signing as Manchester City manager.
After a hugely successful decade in which he led the club to 17 major trophies – including six Premier League titles and one Champions League win – Pep Guardiola has left Manchester City.
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Given his enormous success at the club, the task of replacing Guardiola as City manager seems almost insurmountable, no matter who takes over the job.
Maresca is expected to be appointed
City have not yet confirmed who will take over as manager, but it is widely believed that former Chelsea manager Maresca will soon be presented as Guardiola’s successor.
With club legends such as Bernardo Silva and John Stones also out of the club, and several other key players linked with transfers, there is no doubt that Maresca will have the opportunity to spend large sums of money on bringing a wave of new talent to City.
And there seems to be one player from his time at Chelsea that he is particularly desperate to sign. A report from Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto claims that Maresca wants to sign defender Marc Cucurella.
Cucurella: “I would die for him”
The Spanish international has been a key player for the Blues since arriving in August 2022, and he made 79 appearances under Maresca during the Italian’s 18-month tenure as Chelsea boss.
After Maresca’s intense departure from the London club on New Year’s Day, the left-back had only good things to say about his former manager.
“With Enzo Maresca at the helm, we were more stable, because we worked together for 18 months. If you look at our first friendly with him, there were doubts,” Cucurella told The Athletic in March.
“You need a process for every player to understand what we need to do. In our last months with Maresca, we played almost by heart. If we changed the system, we knew what we had to do. You need that time.”
“We knew what Maresca wanted from us. Winning a title like the Club World Cup also helps – it strengthens the bond and you create good relationships during the celebration.”
“When a manager gives you that confidence and gives you a platform to fight for titles, you’d die for him.”
“The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us. These are decisions made by the club. If you had asked me, I wouldn’t have made that decision.”
Tough competition for the Spaniard
But City already have impressive options at left-back in Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Josko Gvardiol. A move for Cucurella – which is likely to cost over £50 million – will undoubtedly cause a stir.
And with both Atlético Madrid and Barcelona also thought to be interested in signing the Spaniard, City could face stiff competition for his signature if they go for an official transfer.
Enzo Fernandez also on the wish list
But Cucurella is not the only Chelsea player Maresca is reportedly keen to sign in his first transfer window as City boss.
According to reports, midfielder Enzo Fernández is also one of City’s “sought-after transfer targets” and he is “highly wanted” by his former manager.
It is claimed that talks have already taken place, and that the two share a “great and very trusting relationship” after winning the Club World Cup and Conference League together.
The Argentine international, who joined Chelsea for a then-club-record £105 million in 2023, has scored 15 goals and recorded seven assists in 53 appearances for the Blues in the 2025/26 season.
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