Enzo Maresca reiterated the importance of Rodri to Manchester City and claimed reports he is poised to join Real Madrid were just “speculation”.
The 30-year-old has 12 months left on his contract at the Etihad and is a key target this summer for Madrid with their president Florentino Perez performing a u-turn having said previously they weren’t interested in the former Atletico man.
Rodri is currently sidelined having undergone a minor back operation but that is not expected to prevent Madrid from making an offer in the next 48 hours that could rise to £51million.
Speaking before City’s pre-season clash with Inter Milan in Hong Kong tomorrow, Maresca said: “It’s just speculation at the moment. Rodri had the surgery last Monday; everything was fine. Now, some days off and he’ll be back with us when he finishes his holiday.
“The main focus for him when the season finished was the World Cup. Now, he is enjoying some rest after that and we didn’t have any conversations just focused on Rodri.”
Rodri is ‘very important’ to City, says Maresca
Asked to outline the importance of the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, who was also the recipient of the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball for best player after captaining his country to the title, to City in his first season in charge, Maresca replied: “Very important. I said in the first press conference that any manager in the world wants Rodri because he’s a top player; so it’s important for me, the club and for everyone.
“But now, he needs his holiday – that’s very important when we start to play every three days.”
Having already lost Bernardo SIlva to Madrid this summer, City would be reluctant to sanction the departure of another experienced midfielder.
They have brought in England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m and are believed to be closing in on Lille’s Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi.
City not done in the window just yet
And Maresca hinted City might be in the market for more players before the season gets underway next month.
He said: “We are talking with [sporting director] Hugo [Viana], with the club about some targets. It’s a normal situation when the transfer window is open, anything can happen. For sure, we are going to do something but we are looking at different positions.
“In this moment, we have, as you know, many young players here. Tomorrow, three of the senior players are going to arrive and slowly, the rest. I’m happy at the moment to work with the ones who are here.”
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