Maresca says Man City will 'try to find the new Rodri'
Quick summary
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes Manchester City will actively seek a long-term replacement for Rodri, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceManchester City will "try to find the new Rodri" after the Spain captain left the club earlier this week to join La Liga champions Barcelona, says manager Enzo Maresca.
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What happened
Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea head coach and former Pep Guardiola assistant, has commented that Manchester City will look to find a successor for Rodri in the coming transfer windows. Rodri suffered a serious ACL injury in September 2024 and missed the bulk of the 2024-25 season, though he returned to feature in City's run-in. Maresca's comments highlight the difficulty of replacing a player of Rodri's profile, a Ballon d'Or winner widely regarded as the world's best deep-lying midfielder. While Maresca did not name any specific targets, the remark underscores how central Rodri remains to City's system and how rare players of his mould are in the transfer market.
Chance analysis
The remarks from a rival Premier League manager underline just how dependent Manchester City remain on Rodri's presence in midfield. Even with the club's depth and resources, replacing a Ballon d'Or-winning deep playmaker is a near-impossible task, and City's cautious handling of his return from an ACL tear this season reflects that. Whoever City eventually target — or develop internally — will be tasked with replicating the unique blend of defensive solidity, ball progression and set-piece threat that Rodri provides, and any addition would significantly reshape Guardiola's tactical setup.
Manchester City's midfield strength and tactical structure remain heavily tied to Rodri's fitness, with no clear successor identified yet.