Man City will 'try to find the new Rodri' - Maresca
August 22, 2026 23:30
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says the club will look to replace Rodri after the Spain captain completed a move to Barcelona earlier this week. Rodri left the Etihad after seven seasons and has signed a four-year deal at the Nou Camp with Barcelona paying a fee reported to be around £65m.
Maresca stressed the need to recruit appropriately after a long-serving midfield figure departed, and confirmed City remain active in the transfer market as the window enters its final phase.
KEY CONTEXT
Rodri made nearly 300 appearances for City and collected numerous honours while at the club, including four Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2023 — in which he scored the only goal in the final — and the 2024 Ballon d’Or. He also captained Spain to a World Cup win in the summer. He was in the final year of his City contract; the club offered an extension but talks did not reach an agreement.
City have already completed at least one major signing this window — Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a club-record fee of £115m — and are reported to be in advanced discussions for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The club has also been linked with Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alex Scott (Bournemouth) and Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool).
WHY IT MATTERS
Rodri was a long-term midfield linchpin for City, and his departure leaves a clear recruitment need in a central role that has previously required careful replacement when other key players moved on. Maresca referenced past examples — the exits of David Silva, Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho — and framed finding the next central figure as a priority.
The outcome of City’s ongoing transfer activity will shape how quickly they can restore balance in midfield and manage the squad changes before the window closes.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether City complete moves for reported targets in the remaining days of the window, including progress on Ayyoub Bouaddi and any developments on Enzo Fernández, Alex Scott or Alexis Mac Allister.
- How the club balances incoming signings with departures, given Maresca’s comment that they do not want to retain players who want to leave.
- The short-term impact on City’s midfield while recruitment is undertaken.
KEY FACTS
- Rodri joined Barcelona on a four-year deal for a fee reported around £65m.
- He played nearly 300 games for Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League; he also won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and captained Spain to the World Cup title.
- Rodri was in the final 12 months of his City contract; extension talks did not produce an agreement.
- Manchester City signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this window for a club-record £115m and are in advanced talks for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi; links also exist to Enzo Fernández, Alex Scott and Alexis Mac Allister.
- Maresca said the club will aim to recruit a successor and noted the transfer window typically sees much business concentrated toward the end.