New manager faces his biggest early test as City try to replace the most complete midfielder in world football
Enzo Maresca has been Manchester City’s manager since June 29, and he’s already staring down the kind of roster puzzle that would make most coaches quietly update their LinkedIn. The club needs to replace Rodri, its midfield linchpin for seven seasons, after the Spanish international completed a move to Barcelona for a reported £65 million.
“I’ll try to find a new Rodri, it is what it is,” Maresca said.
Rodri’s departure leaves a hole in Manchester City’s squad. The Spaniard made nearly 300 appearances across seven seasons at the Etihad Stadium, collecting four Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League trophy along the way.
Then there’s the small matter of winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award. He also helped lead Spain to World Cup glory.
Maresca is no stranger to Manchester City’s ecosystem. Before taking the top job on June 29, he served as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola and managed the club’s Elite Development Squad. That familiarity with the club’s DNA is precisely why the board chose him to succeed Guardiola after the legendary manager’s decade-long reign, which produced 17 major trophies.
Maresca has pointed to City’s historical success in replacing key players as a source of optimism. The club has navigated high-profile departures before. When Sergio Aguero left, Erling Haaland arrived and immediately broke the Premier League scoring record. When Raheem Sterling moved on, Phil Foden stepped up.
No specific transfer targets have been publicly announced, with the club only recently beginning pre-season preparations under the new manager.
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