Manchester City are set to appoint Enzo Maresca as their new manager after agreeing a huge financial settlement with Chelsea – a deal reported by journalist Gianluca Di Marzio that will see City pay €20m (£17.2m) to secure the Italian’s release. Maresca, who served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant during City’s 2022/23 treble-winning campaign before managing Leicester to promotion and then spending six months at Chelsea – leaving in January after winning the Club World Cup – is expected to take over a squad that requires only minor tweaks rather than a major overhaul.
One player who will be given a fresh start is forgotten defender Vitor Reis. The 20-year-old Brazilian returns from a season-long loan at City’s sister club Girona, where he grew into a standout performer despite their relegation on the final day. City’s backline conceded only 35 goals in the Premier League last season – the second fewest behind Arsenal’s 27 – but Reis managed just four senior games for City before being sent out for experience. His loan started poorly with a red card in his fifth appearance against Levante, but Girona commentator Miquel Agut Riera says he improved game by game. “If he plays for Manchester City next season, he has already faced the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona and was outstanding,” Riera told BBC Sport. “He has everything to become an important player in a top squad. We are talking about a star in the making.”
“Man City agree £17.2m compensation for Enzo Maresca as Vitor Reis returns from loan.”
City spent £29.6m to sign Reis from Palmeiras in January 2025, and despite reports in Spain linking him with Barcelona, sources have dismissed those links as “pure speculation.” As it stands, the plan is for Reis to be an option next season, and he is expected to join City’s depleted contingent for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong towards the end of July. Meanwhile, former City defender Nedum Onuoha believes Maresca’s appointment would be a positive one. “It’s a great job for somebody to have because the club is not in a bad position – it’s the exact opposite,” he told PA. “There’s lots of good young players coming through who’ve shown they can contest for a league title and lift silverware at Wembley.”