Guardiola tells Manchester City players he is leaving as club line up Maresca

Pep Guardiola has informed Manchester City’s players that he will leave the club after Sunday’s final Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa. The manager felt obliged to update his squad after news of his departure broke on Monday night, taking him by surprise while he was preparing for Tuesday’s match at Bournemouth. Guardiola had hoped to keep his decision to leave City private for longer, so as not to provide a distraction.

City need to beat Bournemouth to take the title race to the last day after Arsenal moved five points clear by defeating Burnley . Guardiola is leaving after 10 years with a season remaining on his contract and City have identified Enzo Maresca as his replacement. Chelsea are in line for sizeable compensation for Maresca from City after the Italian’s acrimonious departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day. City are understood to have agreed a three-year deal in principle with Maresca but there are matters to tie up relating to his exit from Stamford Bridge. The former Leicester manager is understood to have contractual obligations to Chelsea . He walked away with three and a half years on his deal, with the club option of an extra year. Sources close to Maresca, who worked as Guardiola’s No 2 at City in the 2022-23 season, have confirmed he did not claim severance and that Chelsea hold his compensation rights. That means the London club are in position to seek compensation. The number on the claim has been kept confidential but is unlikely to be small. Chelsea have watched events around Guardiola’s future unfold with interest. They view Maresca’s resignation as the reason for their disappointing second half of the season. Chelsea are likely to miss out on the Champions League and lost the FA Cup final to City last Saturday.

Key points

• City need to beat Bournemouth to take the title race to the last day after Arsenal moved five points clear by defeating Burnley .
• Guardiola is leaving after 10 years with a season remaining on his contract and City have identified Enzo Maresca as his replacement.
• Chelsea are in line for sizeable compensation for Maresca from City after the Italian’s acrimonious departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day.
• City are understood to have agreed a three-year deal in principle with Maresca but there are matters to tie up relating to his exit from Stamford Bridge.
• The former Leicester manager is understood to have contractual obligations to Chelsea .