Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has stated that the club is actively seeking to identify and sign a player who can fill the void left by key midfielder Rodri, who recently departed for Barcelona. Maresca indicated that the team aims to complete these necessary deals before the upcoming transfer deadline.
Maresca expressed optimism about the club's ability to find a suitable successor, drawing a parallel to Rodri's own development. "Before he arrived, he didn't win the Ballon d'Or, he didn't win the Champions League, he didn't win the Club World Cup. He joined the club then he achieved many important things," Maresca said, suggesting that new recruits can be molded into top-tier players.
The manager confirmed that the club is targeting a squad of approximately 20 outfield players. Currently, Manchester City has 19 senior players, not including new signing Jeremy Monga, but this number also accounts for players who may be targets for other clubs. Maresca acknowledged the challenges presented by players seeking to leave but stressed the need for adaptation.
"It doesn’t help that there are players that for different reasons want to leave, that is for sure," Maresca stated. "But we need to adapt. There are 10 days to go, hopefully we can do the things that we need to do."
Maresca also reflected on the club's history of replacing significant players, citing the arrivals of Erling Haaland after Sergio Agüero's departure and Rodri's signing following Fernandinho's tenure. He emphasized the importance of effective recruitment in managing player transitions.
"When they leave, you need to be good in recruiting the next one. They are all similar, David [Silva], Kevin [De Bruyne], Fernandinho, Rodri, Erling. It is normal, it is change, it is not a problem, go again and try to do the right things," he added.
The club is reportedly expected to finalize a deal for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi during the current transfer window. With Elliot Anderson already signed, Maresca is confident that these new additions can effectively fill the void left by Rodri's departure.