Maresca, 46, is no stranger to the Etihad Stadium. He served as Manchester City's Under-23 head coach between 2020 and 2021 before becoming Guardiola's first-team assistant from 2022 to 2023 — years in which the club won the treble. After spells at Leicester City and Chelsea, where he was dismissed in January following a difficult first half of the season, he is now returning to the environment that shaped his management philosophy.
His first reported decision has already made headlines. According to the Mirror, Maresca is prepared to give Jack Grealish a genuine opportunity in his squad for 2026-27 — an outcome that would have seemed unlikely twelve months ago.
Grealish, 30, was loaned to Everton this season after Guardiola effectively ended his involvement at City. The England international contributed two goals and six assists in 22 appearances for Everton before a foot injury ended his campaign in January. He was absent for the World Cup squad named by Thomas Tuchel — his second successive major tournament miss after also being dropped for Euro 2024.
Guardiola never disguised his frustration with Grealish's lifestyle, alluding publicly to his nocturnal habits and questioning whether the player made the right decisions away from the training ground. The Catalan pushed to keep him at City when others wanted him sold, but ultimately ran out of patience.
Maresca's willingness to reassess the situation represents a meaningful shift. Grealish has two years remaining on his City contract, and at 30 he remains a player of significant technical ability when fully fit and focused.
Whether his conduct away from football has changed sufficiently to earn a sustained run in Maresca's plans remains the central question. The new manager's early signal is that he is at least prepared to find out.