Leicester have appeared to make their feelings clear on manager Enzo Maresca’s departure to fellow Premier League club Chelsea.
Chelsea announced the appointment of the 44-year-old on a five-year contract, with the option of an additional year, on Monday afternoon. He replaces Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca guided Leicester to the Championship title last season – an accolade the Foxes achieved with a game to spare.
According to The Telegraph, the Italian told Leicester’s hierarchy at the end of last season that he was happy to stay at the club, despite financial issues and a potential Premier League points deduction.
But that quickly changed once Chelsea parted company with Pochettino, with Maresca named as their number one target.
The former Manchester City assistant manager has now left the King Power Stadium after a single season in charge – and Leicester’s official statement following his departure gives an indication of how they feel about the saga.
The statement reads: “Leicester City Football Club can today confirm the departure of Enzo Maresca from his position as First Team Manager.
“Given the promising foundations established during his single season in charge, the Club is disappointed that Enzo has decided at this stage that he no longer wants to be part of our vision.
“However, with Enzo’s decision made and the Board’s terms for his departure met, we wish him well in his future endeavours.
“He leaves with the appreciation of everyone at the Club for his work in helping us to achieve an immediate return to the Premier League during the 2023/24 season.
“The Board will now commence the process of appointing a new manager that will lead our return to the Premier League and continue the implementation of our long-term vision for the success of Leicester City Football Club.”
It has been reported that Leicester will receive a compensation fee of £10 million for Maresca – making the 44-year-old one of the most expensive managers in British football history.
Some of that fee could be used to pay the reported £3.5 million compensation fee to appoint West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, who is currently (as per The Telegraph) a leading contender to take charge at the King Power Stadium.
Steve Cooper, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Graham Potter are among the other contenders to take the vacant role, with Maresca bringing the majority of his key staff over to Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca is set to join Chelsea from Leicester City following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, and it has already been revealed exactly where he wants to strengthen the side.
The Italian manager is in pole position to become the next manager of the Todd Boehly era after it was confirmed Pochettino would be leaving due to ‘mutual consent’ last week.
Chelsea had recovered well after a difficult season and ended up finishing a highly respectable sixth considering they spent the majority of the season fighting to be in the top half.
Pochettino released a statement to Chelsea fans after his rather surprising exit.
“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history,” he wrote.
“The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
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