Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus method as Chelsea demand mammoth compensation payment
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has responded to an method by Juventus this week because the Serie A giants seek for Igor Tudor’s substitute.
It has been a particularly combined begin to 2025/2026 for Maresca after delivering two main trophies within the house of some months earlier this yr.
A win of 4 straight wins in all competitions earlier than their damning loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge final weekend greatest sums up their inconsistency so far, with Chelsea solely simply getting previous Premier League backside facet Wolves within the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
The west Londoners have been 3-0 up and cruising due to first-half targets from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao, however the house facet critically threatened an unlikely comeback when Tolu Arokodare and David Wolfe pulled it again to 3-2.
Summer season signing Jamie Gittens was then available to attain Chelsea’s fourth and his first ever purpose for the membership, which finally sealed their place within the quarter-finals, even when Wolfe bagged one other for Wolves in added time to make Maresca’s facet sweat.
The 4-3 win at Molineux was overshadowed considerably by Liam Delap’s unnecessary crimson card, with Maresca lambasting his two bookable offences as “embarrassing”.
“It is embarrassing when it’s a crimson card like in the present day. It is embarrassing, two yellow playing cards in seven minutes. Each I feel we are able to keep away from,” mentioned a livid Maresca post-match.
“After the primary yellow card I advised him to 4 or 5 occasions ‘preserve calm’, however he is a participant when he’s contained in the pitch, in all probability he’s taking part in the sport for himself and he struggled to grasp and to pay attention round him.”
Delap is now set to overlook Chelsea’s crunch conflict towards Tottenham this weekend via suspension, regardless of solely simply returning to the fold after weeks on the remedy desk with a hamstring harm.
Away from the pitch, Juve are believed to have contacted Maresca’s entourage on the identical day that Chelsea edged previous Wolves.
Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus method with Chelsea calls for clear
Experiences earlier this season advised Maresca’s long-term future at Chelsea is much from sure, with tensions current between the Italian and his membership hierarchy.
In addition to this, journalist Simon Phillips reported that each Cole Palmer and Reece James aren’t absolutely behind Maresca’s methodology, so if outcomes proceed to be topsy-turvy, this example is price maintaining a tally of.
Now, Phillips has offered one other replace on the 45-year-old’s future.
Writing by way of his Substack, the reporter shares information that Juve approached Maresca’s camp on Wednesday amid their seek for a brand new supervisor.
Nonetheless, the tactician’s response is evident — he isn’t seeking to go away halfway via the marketing campaign.
Whereas a transfer to Turin on the finish of the season is not dominated out, Chelsea will demand an enormous compensation payment — which may attain as much as £10 million.
“Enzo Maresca has been on the high of Juventus’ checklist for his or her new supervisor, however they knew that he’s not attainable mid-season,” Phillips wrote.
“This has not stopped them making contact with Maresca’s individuals in current days. Nonetheless, the phrase from Maresca is that in the intervening time he isn’t seeking to make any modifications to his present state of affairs proper now.
“Our sources additional perceive that the talks have extra centered round a transfer for Maresca in the summertime, on the finish of this season. Juventus would like to convey Maresca in on the finish of the season and are attempting to see if it might be attainable.
“As per our mates sources at The Blues Feed, Juventus have been involved with Maresca’s entourage as current as yesterday (Wednesday). And per their sources additional, Chelsea would ask for £8m-£10m in compensation ought to they launch Maresca from his contract.
“For that to occur, Maresca must go to them and inform them he needs to go. For the time being, on Maresca and on Chelsea’s facet, the goal and plan is to a minimum of see out this season and each reassess on the finish of the season.”
Chelsea are braced for a vital run of video games from now until the top of November, together with Spurs, Arsenal and La Liga champions Barcelona within the Champions League.
Given their fairly weak defence and lack of choices, significantly at centre-back, the Blues may additionally look to strengthen Maresca’s ranks in January.
Chelsea maintain talks with Premier League centre-back over cut-price January transfer.
