Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca discussed the cloud of uncertainty hanging over Rodri’s future at the club after Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in Cardiff.
Elliot Anderson is expected to be the Rodri replacement in defensive midfield for Manchester City
More Videos
Rodri did not make the trip to south Wales on Sunday afternoon as Enzo Maresca and his Manchester City squad fell to a disappointing defeat in the Italian's first competitive game in charge of the Blues against the reigning Premier League champions, Arsenal.
Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard were on the scoresheet for the Gunners, who were far too good for a lacklustre Manchester City side for the most-part of the contest, leaving Maresca with plenty to work out ahead of this weekend’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
With the aforementioned Spanish international and 2026 World Cup-winning captain absent, Mateo Kovacic lined up alongside club record Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson - who also endured a difficult debut in sky blue - as it never seemed to click for Enzo Maresca’s line-up against the north Londoners.
Maresca talks Rodri as Barcelona agree fee with Man City
Speaking in a press conference after losing his first competitive fixture as Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca was asked whether his side missed Rodri’s experience in the middle of the park against the likes of Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes, and Odegaard.
"Rodri is a player that just won the World Cup, Ballon d'Or - a top player that all teams would need,” the Italian coach said.
“It's not about if we miss Rodri or not, I think the ones that played today, Elliot [Anderson] was quite good, his first game, and Mateo [Kovacic].
"But again, I think we can find many things after defeats, we just need to analyse the right way and think about/focus on the next one.”
Will Rodri play for Man City ever again?
It is highly unlikely that Rodri dons sky blue on the pitch again after FC Barcelona reached an agreement with Manchester City for a reported total package fee of £65.4 million to sign the Spain international.
Rodri has expressed a desire to join forces with Hansi Flick and the wide contingent of the Spain National Team stars in Catalunya, with the transfer expected to be completed in the coming days.
Enzo Maresca and Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana are expected to expedite their pursuit of Lille’s Morocco international starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi and make a firm decision on whether the club want to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea - valued by those in the capital at £120 million.
As for Rodri, the former Atletico Madrid man is set to return to Spain after seven illustrious seasons at the Etihad Stadium that saw the midfielder win four Premier League titles, a maiden UEFA Champions League trophy, and become the first player in Manchester City history to win the Ballon d’Or.
City could yet turn to the transfer market for a new winger recruit in the final fortnight of the season too, as Savinho closes in on a reported £85 million switch to Tottenham, having already formally indicated a desire to leave the Etihad Stadium several weeks ago.