Enzo Maresca leaves Chelsea after holding talks over Manchester City move

• Italian departs Stamford Bridge role after 18 months

• Maresca told bosses he discussed replacing Guardiola

Enzo Maresca’s shock departure at Chelsea came after he informed the club that he had held talks with figures associated to Manchester City over replacing Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea have been weighed down by uncertainty ever since cracks in Maresca’s relationship with the board became apparent last month, but there is a feeling at Stamford Bridge that the Italian was looking to engineer an exit before a parting of the ways was confirmed on Thursday morning.