Manchester Metropolis’s Enzo Maresca coy on the way forward for midfielder Rodri forward of Group Defend showdown with Arsenal.
Revealed On 14 Aug 2026
Manchester Metropolis supervisor Enzo Maresca has remained tight-lipped about Rodri’s future amid hypothesis linking their Spain midfielder with a transfer to Barcelona, saying “something can occur” earlier than the switch window closes.
The uncertainty comes the morning after an obvious image of Rodri travelling on a price range Ryanair flight from Madrid to Liverpool went viral on social media, with the previous Ballon d’Or winner noticed carrying a small suitcase bearing his title, nationwide workforce flag and squad quantity.
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Regardless of hypothesis in regards to the Madrid flight, it’s understood that document La Liga winners, Actual Madrid, have cooled their curiosity primarily based on the monetary weight required for the switch.
“To begin with, we already mentioned the switch window is open, we will purchase and promote gamers, something can occur,” Maresca instructed reporters on Friday forward of Sunday’s Group Defend conflict in opposition to Premier League champions Arsenal in Cardiff.
“I’ve simply seen Rodri now within the constructing, I gave him a giant hug, he appears good, so we’ll see what occurs.”
Maresca confirmed the World Cup winner is match to return to coaching after present process again surgical procedure on the finish of July.
Requested if he was conscious of studies that Chelsea had set a Friday deadline for bids for the London membership’s Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and whether or not that meant Metropolis can be doing any switch enterprise within the subsequent 24 hours, Maresca smiled and mentioned Metropolis is not going to make any new signings on Friday.
Whereas discuss of Rodri, a cornerstone of Metropolis’s success in current seasons, doubtlessly leaving the membership has dominated the headlines, Maresca insisted his consideration was on Sunday’s match reasonably than the switch window.
“For certain there are issues we have to do. For now, what number of, I don’t know. It may be one, it may be two (gamers),” he mentioned. “Relies upon additionally if gamers are going to go away. It relies upon.
“Now in this second, 48 hours earlier than a ultimate, my first on this membership, my focus will not be about gamers leaving or arriving, it’s simply how we will put together the easiest way within the recreation and take a look at to win the ultimate.”
The Italian dismissed any suggestion that the Group Defend, which sees the Premier League champions face the FA Cup winners, ought to be seen as a glorified pleasant, saying Metropolis have been decided to start out the season with silverware.
“For me personally it’s a trophy. And when the trophy is there, the ultimate is there, you all the time attempt to win the sport,” Maresca mentioned. “So no pleasant in any respect. It’s a trophy that we’re going to attempt our finest to win, to win the primary trophy.”
Maresca is searching for his first silverware as supervisor of Metropolis after taking cost following the departure of Pep Guardiola on the finish of final season.
