Harry Winks has named Enzo Maresca as the best manager he has worked under, ranking the Manchester City boss above both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho.
Pochettino is in line to become Manchester United's next manager after Michael Carrick was ousted at Old Trafford. Reports indicate a deal to bring in the Argentine is being finalised, with personal terms agreed. The current USMNT manager has a release clause of more than £7m in his contract, and contact has been made to activate it.
Winks' verdict on Maresca
Speaking to Sky Sports in the 2023/24 season, Winks said: "[He's] by far the best manager I've worked for. He's incredible, and I think everyone will say he's going right to the top in terms of managerial stature. I think he's got everything."
"He's a great man-manager. He's tactically incredible - some of the decisions he tells us to do before the game and how you view the matches, it's something that I've never experienced before in football."
Managerial comparisons
Winks made 203 appearances for Tottenham between 2014 and 2022. He was managed by Pochettino from 2014 to 2019, by Mourinho from 2019 to 2021, and by Conte from 2021 to 2022, before being loaned to Sampdoria. He was sold to Leicester City in 2023 for £10m.
Maresca guided Leicester back into the Premier League in the 2023/24 season before becoming Chelsea manager. His spell at Stamford Bridge, which included winning the Conference League and Club World Cup, lasted until early 2026. He was appointed City boss in June.
Recent moves
Winks suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One with Leicester. He left in July, signing a two-year contract with Serie A side Cagliari.
Maresca now looks set to be on opposite sides of the Manchester divide from Pochettino, who appears certain to become the latest manager at Old Trafford.
