Italian tactician Enzo Maresca has declared he feels "ready for the next chapter" of his coaching career, fueling speculation that a return to Manchester City could be on the horizon. The 46-year-old, who parted ways with Chelsea earlier this year, opened up about his future during an appearance on Sky Sport Italia.

Maresca's tenure at Chelsea was a rollercoaster. He led the Blues to Club World Cup glory last season, famously defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final held in the USA. However, behind the scenes, friction with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy grew, ultimately leading to his departure on January 1. After five months away from the dugout, the Italian is eager to lace up his boots again.

"I feel ready for the next chapter, that is the most important thing," Maresca said. When pressed about persistent rumors linking him to the Manchester City hot seat—potentially as Pep Guardiola's successor should the Spaniard decide to move on—he didn't shy away. "What matters, regardless of the club, is being ready. There are only a few weeks left until the end of the season, then we'll see what happens."

The connection to City runs deep. Maresca served as Guardiola's assistant during the 2022-23 treble-winning campaign and previously worked in the club's youth academy in 2020-21. His coaching journey also includes a brief stint at Parma in Serie A (14 games in 2021), a triumphant promotion-winning season with Leicester City in 2023-24, and then the Chelsea chapter.

While City seems the most likely destination, Napoli could also enter the fray if Antonio Conte decides to step away at season's end. For now, Maresca is keeping his cards close to his chest, but one thing is clear: this is a coach ready to write his next big story.