Porto boss Francesco Farioli responds to Chelsea interest after Enzo Maresca exit

Farioli among the names considered by Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Porto boss Francesco Farioli is prepared to reject an approach from Chelsea with the Italian named among the contenders to replace Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues parted company with Maresca on Thursday with the search now underway for a new head coach.

Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior has emerged as the early favourite for the job in west London having impressed in France but the club are also looking at a number of other candidates.

The Daily Telegraph have named Farioli as one name in contention. The 36-year-old only took over at the Portuguese giants in the summer having already had spells in charge at Nice and Ajax .

This season, he has led Porto back to the summit of the Primeira Liga, undefeated this season having won 15 of 16 games.

Chelsea would have to pay a compensation fee of around £13million to prise the Italian away from Porto.

Reports in Portugal from Record and O Jogo claim there has been no contact between the Premier League side and Farioli at this stage.

Chelsea Head Coach Enzo Maresca is present during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James’s Park in Newcastle, United Kingdom, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In any case, the coach is not interested in a move to England at this point in his career. Farioli has assured Andre Villas-Boas, a former Chelsea manager himself and now Porto president, that he is happy at the Dragao Stadium.

Farioli has been an instant hit in Portugal (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea could turn to assistant head coach Willy Caballero to lead the side on Sunday when they take on Manchester City if there is no new appointment in place yet.

Maresca leaves with the west London side fifth in the Premier League – 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal .

‘Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company,’ a Chelsea statement read.

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‘During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the Club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the Club.