- Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali hinted that Maresca’s exit was not initiated by the club
- Chelsea may take the matter to the Premier League for investigation if both sides fail to agree on compensation
- He acknowledged that the managerial change had affected Chelsea’s campaign
Chelsea are considering legal action over Manchester City’s reported move for former head coach Enzo Maresca unless an agreement is reached on compensation, according to reports.
Reports from England claim Maresca held discussions with City while still serving as Chelsea manager, a development said to have upset officials at Stamford Bridge, Eko Hot Blog reports.
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The Italian has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola, who is expected to leave the Etihad, further straining relations between the clubs.
According to The Sun, Chelsea may take the matter to the Premier League for investigation if both sides fail to agree on compensation.
Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali hinted that Maresca’s exit was not initiated by the club.
“The change was not a decision made by the club for reasons I cannot discuss legally,” Eghbali said.
“I believe the reasons will become clearer with time, but it was not something we wanted.”
He acknowledged that the managerial change had affected Chelsea’s campaign.
“It has impacted the season because changing systems and personnel always comes with challenges,” he added.
“It’s something we now have to work through.”
Maresca’s departure came as a surprise to many supporters, with little clarity initially provided. Reports suggest his relationship with Chelsea’s hierarchy began deteriorating in December before tensions escalated publicly.
The situation reportedly worsened after Maresca described the aftermath of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Atalanta as his “worst 48 hours” at the club, claiming he lacked support from the board.
He was also criticised for allegedly disregarding medical recommendations regarding player fitness and workload management before reports surfaced linking him with City and Juventus.
However, sources close to Maresca maintained that Chelsea had been informed about his discussions with other clubs.
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