https://orange1079fm.com/premier-league-preview-and-predictions-for-game-week-one/England legend Rio Ferdinand has slammed Enzo Maresca for leaving Chelsea in the middle of the 2025/26 season to take a job at Manchester City.
Ferdinand says he is disappointed with the Italian for ditching the club that gave him a platform in top-flight English football when it became clear he was wanted at the Etihad.
Maresca was appointed to replace Mauricio Pochettino after the 2023/24 season. The Italian steadied the ship in his first season at Stamford Bridge, securing a top-four finish and winning the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup.
The Blues had high hopes for last season, but their campaign took a nosedive when Maresca parted ways with the club abruptly.
Many thought it was the board’s decision to sack the former Parma manager until reports emerged that he chose to leave after learning Pep Guardiola would depart Manchester City after ten years, with a possibility of replacing him.
Ferdinand believes it was unethical for Maresca to leave Chelsea in that manner, but insists it was a blessing in disguise as the Blues have found a better replacement in Xabi Alonso.
“I’ll be honest, I never thought we’d get to hear the full story from Maresca himself. For months, everyone was blaming the owners for sacking one of their best managers in recent years, but the club simply knew something the public didn’t,” the former Manchester United defender said.
“If a player or a manager no longer sees a club as the place he wants to be, then why should the club want to keep him? Sometimes the biggest move a club can make is knowing when to let go.
“From Maresca’s side though, I found it disappointing. Chelsea gave him the biggest opportunity of his career. They took him from Leicester, trusted him with one of the biggest jobs in England and gave him a platform to build his name.
“You don’t leave a club like that halfway through a project because Pep Guardiola calls you. That’s not how you repay a club that believed in you before everyone else did.
“I actually respect Chelsea for acting immediately. Once they realized his mind wasn’t fully at the club anymore, they moved on instead of begging someone to stay.
“And look at who they’ve brought in – Xabi Alonso. A manager with a bigger résumé, a stronger personality and someone who can influence an entire football club, not just the starting eleven.
“Maybe Maresca leaving and Xabi becoming available at almost the same time wasn’t just a coincidence. It could be a blessing in disguise.”
