Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that the club must find a new Rodri following the influential midfielder’s departure to Barcelona, but the Italian coach remains confident that the Premier League champions can successfully rebuild their midfield.
Rodri’s exit represents one of the biggest changes at Manchester City in recent years. The Spain international spent seven highly successful seasons at the Etihad Stadium after joining from Atletico Madrid, establishing himself as one of the most important players in the club’s modern history.
The 30 year old midfielder leaves behind an impressive collection of honours, including four Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and two FA Cups. He also won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and captained Spain to World Cup glory, underlining just how difficult his departure will be for City to handle.
Speaking about the challenge facing his new team, Maresca acknowledged that replacing a player of Rodri’s quality will not be straightforward. However, rather than viewing the departure as a crisis, the former Chelsea boss believes it provides Manchester City with an opportunity to discover another player capable of developing into a world class midfielder.
“I’ll try to find a new Rodri. It is what it is,” Maresca said, stressing that Rodri himself was not regarded as one of the world’s best players when he first arrived at Manchester City.
Maresca pointed to Rodri’s own development as evidence that Manchester City do not necessarily need to sign an established superstar to fill the void. The Spaniard arrived at the club without a Ballon d’Or, Champions League or Club World Cup medal, but went on to become one of the most decorated midfielders in world football.
That history gives Maresca confidence that City’s recruitment team can once again identify the right player and develop him into a key figure.
The manager also highlighted Manchester City’s previous success in replacing legendary players. David Silva’s departure created concerns about creativity and leadership, but Kevin De Bruyne eventually became one of the club’s greatest players. Similarly, Sergio Aguero’s exit was followed by Erling Haaland’s emergence as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.
Maresca believes the same principle can apply to the midfield position following Rodri’s move to Barcelona.
Manchester City have already been active in the transfer market as part of the squad reshaping under Maresca. Elliot Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest for a club record fee of £116 million, while the club have also been linked with several other midfielders as they attempt to strengthen their options before the transfer window closes.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City and has reportedly been viewed by Maresca as an ideal candidate for the role. The Argentine midfielder worked under Maresca during his time at Chelsea, giving the City manager a detailed understanding of his qualities. However, Chelsea have made it clear that Fernandez remains an important part of their squad, making any potential transfer extremely complicated.
City have also been monitoring younger midfield options, including Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. Other names linked with the club include Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Roma’s Manu Kone.
The search for Rodri’s successor comes at an important moment for Manchester City. Maresca has inherited a squad undergoing significant changes following Pep Guardiola’s departure, while several established players have either left or are being linked with moves away.
City also suffered a difficult start to the new campaign after losing 3 0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield. Nevertheless, Maresca has insisted that the club’s transfer plans will not be dictated by one result and that he remains confident in the quality of the squad.
The Premier League season now provides an immediate test of how quickly City can adapt without Rodri. His ability to control possession, break up opposition attacks, dictate the tempo and provide protection for the defence made him almost irreplaceable during his time in Manchester.
Maresca therefore faces one of the biggest tactical challenges of his early tenure. Finding someone who can eventually reach Rodri’s level may take time, but the Italian believes Manchester City’s history shows that elite players can be replaced through intelligent recruitment and development.
For City supporters, the immediate priority will be seeing whether the club can find a midfielder capable of providing stability while the team adjusts to a new era.
Rodri’s departure closes an extraordinary chapter at the Etihad, but Maresca’s message is clear. Manchester City are not simply searching for someone to occupy Rodri’s position. They are searching for the next player who can grow into a defining figure for the club.
