Maresca's Honest Admission on Rodri's Exit as City's Midfield Reset Takes Shape
Enzo Maresca has offered a candid assessment of the challenge City face when a player has decided his future lies elsewhere, following Rodri's departure to Barcelona.
The 30-year-old Ballon d'Or winner has ended his seven-year association with the Etihad, signing a four-year deal with the Catalan giants. The fee, reported to be in the region of £65 million, includes an up-front payment of €60 million with add-ons that could push the total beyond €71.5 million.
"It's quite clear when a player wants to leave, and then it's difficult. For any reason that they want to leave, it's complicated to convince them to stay or change their stance," Maresca admitted.
The manager's words carry weight given the scale of this summer's overhaul. Rodri's exit, with just one year left on his contract, follows the departures of Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid and Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah. The Blues are also facing ongoing doubts over Nico Gonzalez's future, with Newcastle circling.
And Rodri is not the only one who has made his intentions clear.
"It happened with Rodri, the same is happening with Savinho - since day one, he has been asking me he wants to leave. So now we are waiting," he continued.
With the window entering its final fortnight, the focus is turning to reinforcements. Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille is expected to be the first new arrival, while City maintain their interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Roma's Manu Kone. Enquiries have also been made about Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, though the South London club have been firm in their refusal to sell the former Blackburn academy graduate.
The rebuild is gathering pace, but Maresca's honesty suggests the club are under no illusions about the size of the task.