Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that three academy stars will form part of his first-team squad for the 2026/27 campaign.
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Enzo Maresca took several City Football Academy talents on the first-team's pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea earlier in the summer, as many Manchester City stars were given extended periods of rest following a strenuous schedule culminating with the FIFA World Cup in North America.
The club's Italian manager took the opportunity to assess a wide array of young talent in east Asia, and with the club having come under criticism for a largely dormant transfer window on the incomings front, Maresca could benefit from taking a leap of faith in the young jewels on his hands.
Manchester City find themselves scrambling for late solutions in the final week of the window, arguably needing a new winger and two midfielders after the recent sales of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders to Barcelona and Al Qadsiah, with Savinho nearing an £85 million move to Tottenham.
Maresca names academy stars to stay with City first-team
The Blues were handed somewhat of a reality check by Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield, with Enzo Maresca's side swept away by the Gunners in an early statement of intent from Mikel Arteta's Gunners to the rest of the English top-flight.
Speaking during a recent press conference, Maresca outlined how many players he would ideally like to work with during his debut season as Manchester City manager.
“I think we have three academy players that are going to stay with us because they impressed me in pre-season," the Italian tactician said.
He continued, "Kaden [Braithwaite], [Floyd] Samba, and Ryan McAidoo - they are going to stay with us. And then we need 21, 22 players, around 20 players plus these three young, full of energy. We are happy!”
Attitude and behaviour has been very good, says Maresca
On how he has found working with the players at his disposal since returning to Manchester City this summer, the former Chelsea and Leicester manager added, "They are working very good! Since day one, the attitude and behaviour has been very good.
"For most of them it’s not easy, as you said, when you work with the same person every day, and then change, it changes everything. I’m an actor, and I work with the same director, and I make movies for 10 years - suddenly the director changes.
"Me as the actor, I’m still thinking in the same way as I was with the previous director, but now the director is new, so I need to adapt. It’s not easy, so it requires a little bit of time, but we need to compete as soon as possible.”
Could City make further strides in the transfer window?
Manchester City have faced significant backlash from their fans on social media over their pro-selling stance so far in this transfer window, with Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders leaving recently adding fuel to the fire.
City have long been interested in Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, and are closing in on a €95 million plus €5 million in add-ons transfer for the Moroccan international, who is set to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium this week.
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.
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, AS Roma's Manu Kone, and Palmeiras' Allan Elias remain the other targets publicly known, with the latter viewed as a suitable replacement for the outgoing Savinho.
Selling clubs will also likely hold Manchester City given how late the Blues, led by sporting director Hugo Viana, have left it to get ahold of their midfield plans - the department of Enza Maresca's squad that has seen the most significant turnover since the 46-year-old's appointment as Pep Guardiola's successor.