Maresca confirmed that Rodri will undergo surgery, and admitted: "Any coach would want him"
Manchester City's new manager announced that the midfielder will undergo back surgery, but clarified that he expects to see him return: "Around great players there are always speculations."
Enzo Maresca officially began his tenure today, Friday, as manager of Manchester City, holding his first press conference in the role. The Italian, who was appointed as Pep Guardiola's successor after ten particularly successful years for the Catalan at the Etihad Stadium, addressed the great challenge facing him, the club's plans for the transfer window, and the situation of Rodri.
Right at the start, Maresca confirmed that the Spanish national team midfielder will undergo back surgery this coming Monday following an injury that also bothered him during the last World Cup. The coach did not provide an exact estimate regarding the duration of the absence, but clarified that Rodri will need rest and a rehabilitation period afterward.
"At the moment, he will undergo surgery on Monday. After that, he needs to go on vacation, rest, and recover. When he finishes the rehabilitation process, he will return to us," said Maresca.
These things were said against the backdrop of reports linking Rodri to a possible move to Real Madrid. Maresca tried to reassure the fans and emphasized that, as far as he is concerned, the 30-year-old midfielder is part of City's plans for the upcoming season.
"Around great players there are always speculations, so I am not worried. It is normal, especially after Spain won the World Cup and he was one of the best players. Any coach would want Rodri, because he is a top-level player," said the coach.
Rodri has gone through a complex period medically in recent years. After suffering a cruciate ligament injury in 2024, he struggled to maintain consistency last season, but returned in time to take a central part in Spain's World Cup victory. Now, the back surgery might delay his return for the start of the new season.
Beyond the update on Rodri, most of the interest in the press conference was directed at Maresca himself and the not-so-simple task of replacing Guardiola. The new coach did not try to downplay the size of the challenge, but clarified that he sees the appointment as a special opportunity.
"First of all, it is a great privilege. The fact that the club decided to choose me is a great honor for me. I have said many times that I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20 or 25 years. It is a privilege, but also a great challenge," the excited coach shared.
Maresca mentioned the difficulties experienced by other clubs after the departure of legendary coaches, including Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal after Arsene Wenger. However, he emphasized that he is not deterred by the comparisons.
"We know that in history, when a coach is at a club for many years and leaves, usually a period of difficulty arrives. We saw it after Sir Alex and after Wenger, but for me, it is another part of the challenge. We need to do the right things from the beginning for the club, the fans, and everyone connected to it," he said.
For Maresca, this is his third stint at City. He coached the reserve team in the 2020/21 season, and later served as Guardiola's assistant in the 2022/23 season, in which the team won the historic treble. Since then, he has managed to lead Leicester back to the Premier League and coach Chelsea.
"I feel like I've come home. From the first day, the feeling was excellent. I know the club, the people, and the way they want to work here. I am very happy to be here," he shared.
The Italian explained that he intends to continue some of the principles that made City the dominant team in England in recent years: "Probably one of the reasons they chose me is that they see in me ideas similar to those of the previous coach. We want to be aggressive with the ball, control the game, impose our ideas, and in the end, do the most important thing in football: win."
Maresca was also asked about the continuation of the transfer window, after City already invested 116 million pounds in the purchase of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. He hinted that the club has not yet finished its activity in the market.
"I think there are always more things to do. Partly because of our desires and partly because of the dynamics of the transfer window. There are probably a few more things that need to be completed, and we are in the process," he revealed at the end.
