Maresca says Manchester City will seek Rodri replacement
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Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says the club will "try to find the new Rodri" after the Spanish midfielder left this week to join Barcelona, ending a seven-year spell at the Etihad Stadium during which he became one of the world's best players. Maresca compared the exit to previous departures such as David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho, each succeeded by another star arrival, framing the loss as a normal cycle rather than a crisis, and stressed the priority now is recruiting well rather than dwelling on the departure.
Rodri, 30, won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, four Premier League titles and scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final, as well as captaining Spain to World Cup success this summer, before joining Barcelona on a four-year deal worth around £65m. City have already spent a club-record £115m on Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and remain in advanced talks for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, while also being linked with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister; meanwhile Tottenham have agreed a £75m deal for City winger Savinho and are pursuing team-mate Omar Marmoush, with Maresca saying the club expects business to continue right up to the transfer deadline.
- Maresca vows City will "find the new Rodri" after his £65m Barcelona move
- City already spent record £115m on Elliot Anderson; more deals in talks
- Spurs agree £75m Savinho deal, also chasing City's Marmoush
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Manchester City have just lost Rodri, the Spanish midfielder who left this week to join Barcelona after seven years at the club. During that time he became one of the best midfielders in the world, winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or, four Premier League titles and scoring the winner in the 2023 Champions League final, as well as helping Spain win the World Cup this summer. He signed a four-year deal at Barcelona for a fee of around £65m, aged 30.
City manager Enzo Maresca has responded by pointing to a pattern at the club, where the loss of a key player has previously been followed by another top signing, citing past departures such as David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho. The comment reflects City's approach to squad building during the ongoing transfer window, in which clubs buy and sell players before a deadline, rather than any sense of crisis over Rodri's exit.
This context matters because City are still active in the transfer market, having already paid a club-record £115m for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and remaining in talks for other midfielders, including players from Lille, Chelsea and Liverpool. How City replace Rodri is being closely watched given his central role in the team's recent success under manager Pep Guardiola.
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Originally published by BBC Sport as “Man City will ‘try to find the new Rodri’ – Maresca”.