Enzo Maresca is the favorite to replace Guardiola at Man City.

Enzo Maresca is set to shake up English football: the former Chelsea manager is out of the running to return to the Blues and is emerging as the leading candidate to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. According to Fabrizio Romano, a market specialist and renowned insider, the possibility of Maresca taking charge of Chelsea again is “impossible,” while the Citizens are already eyeing him as the natural successor to the Spanish coach.

Maresca, who left Chelsea earlier this year to make way for Liam Rosenior — who has since been dismissed — is now seen internally at Manchester City as the ideal man to continue Guardiola’s legacy. Romano, in a detailed analysis on his YouTube channel, clarified the situation: “Enzo Maresca is not going back to Chelsea. It is impossible. Manchester City wants Maresca to replace Pep Guardiola as soon as he decides to leave, whether this summer or next year.”

Maresca’s trajectory has been meteoric. After working as an assistant to Guardiola at City, the Italian coach gained prestige by leading Chelsea to win the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, titles that underscored his management skills and tactical vision. Interestingly, since his departure, the Blues’ performance has been significantly lower, raising doubts about the decision to let him go.

Romano also dismisses rumors linking other names such as Vincent Kompany or Spanish coaches to the position in Manchester, emphasizing that “the future may very well involve Enzo Maresca.” Although nothing has been signed or officially confirmed yet, the Italian is considered the number one candidate to succeed Guardiola, whose future at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain.

The big question hanging in the air is when Guardiola will decide to leave his position at City. Will it be this summer or in a year? The answer is still unknown, but the club already seems to have a clear plan to ensure the continuity of its winning philosophy with Maresca at the helm.

If this scenario materializes, Chelsea will have reasons to regret their decision, watching a former coach succeed at a direct rival. It remains to be seen whether Maresca can replicate at Manchester City the success he had at Chelsea and whether he is prepared for the monumental challenge of replacing one of the best coaches in the world.

Follow all the updates on this hot dossier and stay tuned to the movements in the world of football, as this will be one of the major stories of the upcoming English season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.