Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has explained why the club have received so many transfer requests from within their first-team squad this summer.
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Manchester City have undergone somewhat of a further mass exodus from their first-team squad throughout the ongoing summer transfer window as Enzo Maresca fine-tunes his options having succeeded Pep Guardiola as manager.
All of Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Rodri form a cohort of seasoned Manchester City stars who have parted ways with the Blues during this window, with the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, James Trafford, and Savinho joining them.
Reijnders is among the more recent exits, having joined Al Qadsiah just 12 months on from arriving at the Etihad Stadium, while a deal has also been agreed with Tottenham for a club-record £85 million sale of Savinho, who joined Manchester City in 2024.
Omar Marmoush was brought in by Pep Guardiola in January 2025 to bolster Manchester City’s frontline and 18 months on, the Egypt international is also in talks to join Tottenham. Nico Gonzalez, who joined City in the same window, is closing in on a move to Newcastle United.
Maresca: 'Aside from Rodri, they didn’t play a lot'
Now, speaking in a press conference around Sunday’s Premier League opening weekend victory over Bournemouth, manager Enzo Maresca touched on why so many Manchester City players have pursued exits this summer.
“Aside from Rodri, they all have one thing in common: They didn't play a lot,” Maresca said as he pointed towards Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, and Savinho.
He continued, "So at the end, we said many times, we just finished a session and they all work every day because at the end they want to play. And when they don't play, they probably prefer to leave.
"The ones that you mentioned, aside from Rodri, the rest are all players that for different reasons didn't play a lot.”
Savinho is set to become the most expensive Manchester City sale as he prepares to undergo a Tottenham medical, with Omar Marmoush also set to following in making a switch to north London in the coming days.
On whether Marmoush will leave as well, Maresca added, “I don't know. Omar is still here, still with us, a different situation to Savinho. And we'll see what happens. Savinho, since day one, asked to leave. Omar [Marmoush] didn't ask to leave since day one. (But has he now?) Not yet.”
How have Man City fared in the transfer window?
Manchester City have a significant void in midfield as they embark on the final 10 days of the transfer window, with director of football Hugo Viana having come under criticism from fans on social media over the 'reactionary' nature of the club’s summer dealings.
The Blues are eyeing two new midfield acquisitions and have been linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, though the £120 million asking price quoted by Stamford Bridge executives has raised doubts over a potential deal.
Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi has been a long-standing priority target for Manchester City, who are understood to have agreed personal terms over a five-year contract with the Morocco international, as well as a €95 million transfer fee with Lille plus a further €5 million in potential add-ons.
Lille and Manchester City have come to an agreement over a transfer for Ayyoub Bouaddi to the Etihad Stadium, it is being reported.cityxtra.co.ukMan City and Lille Reach Full Agreement on Ayyoub Bouaddi
Lille and Manchester City have come to an agreement over a transfer for Ayyoub Bouaddi to the Etihad Stadium, it is being reported.
AS Roma’s Manu Kone has also emerged as an option for Enzo Maresca and club officials, who suffered a brutal reality check of the apparent gulf between his squad and that of reigning Premier League champions Arsenal in a 3-0 defeat to the Gunners in the Community Shield ahead of the English top-flight campaign.
With Savinho expected to complete a move to Tottenham early this week, Manchester City are also advancing in their pursuit of Palmeiras’ Allan Elias, having agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old winger.