Manchester City is entering one of the biggest transitions in more than a decade. After Pep Guardiola's departure, Enzo Maresca took over the team in a context of constant force fluctuations, forcing the Italian coach to quickly build a new framework for the season.
This summer, Man City parted ways with a series of key players who contributed to the historic treble in 2023 such as Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Bernardo Silva and John Stones. In the opposite direction, the Etihad Stadium team brought in Elliot Anderson for a fee of 116 million pounds along with young talent Jeremy Monga to serve the team's rejuvenation plan.
However, the biggest change lies in Rodri's case. The Spanish midfielder is preparing for back surgery after winning the 2026 World Cup with La Roja. Meanwhile, his contract is only one year old and there are continuous rumors that Real Madrid wants to bring this player back to La Liga.
However, Maresca does not hide his intention to keep Rodri. In his first press conference as Man City head coach, he affirmed that any team would want to own a world-class midfielder like the Spanish international and the current priority is to help him fully recover after surgery.
Rodri being seen as the center of Maresca's plan is not surprising. The 30-year-old midfielder possesses the ability to control the pace of the match, distribute the ball and especially positional flexibility - a very important factor in the tactical philosophy of the new Man City coach.
Maresca is originally a player who pursues a ball control style based on a 3-2-2-3 structure. He often requires players to constantly swap positions to create an advantage when deploying the ball. In that system, Rodri can retreat as a third center-back, play the role of defensive midfielder or push up to support attack depending on the diễn biến on the field.
That is also the reason Man City recruited Elliot Anderson. The English player can play in many positions in midfield, from defensive midfielder, central midfielder to attacking midfielder. The ability to adapt to many roles helps Anderson become a piece suitable for the tactical requirements that Maresca builds.
Besides Anderson, The Citizens are also closely following Lille's young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old midfielder impresses with his ability to play in both defensive midfielder, center-back and right-back positions. This versatility makes Bouaddi a suitable target for the Etihad home team's flexible formation orientation.
Even if Rodri cannot return or leave the club soon in the future, Maresca still has a basis for confidence. The Italian coach has repeatedly succeeded in discovering and developing new roles for players, typically John Stones, Moises Caicedo or Marc Cucurella.
However, Rodri is still the most irreplaceable factor in the current Man City squad. His experience, tactical thinking and ability to control the game are the foundation for Maresca to implement his philosophy. Therefore, keeping the Spanish midfielder is not only a personnel problem but also decisive for Man City's success in the new era.
