Enzo Maresca praised the winning mentality of Enzo Fernandez as Manchester City‘s record signing prepares to make his debut for the club.
The long-running transfer saga surrounding Fernandez came to a close on Tuesday as City completed a £125million deal with Chelsea to acquire the midfielder’s services.
That fee equalled the British record Liverpool paid to prise Alexander Isak from Newcastle United last summer.
City host newly promoted Coventry City on Saturday as they aim to make it three Premier League wins from three this season.
Maresca hails Fernandez mindset
While Fernandez will not be part of City’s leadership group, former Chelsea boss Maresca expects the Argentina star’s mindset to be crucial to their hopes of success going forward.
“I know Enzo quite well. I know what he can bring to the team,” Maresca told a pre-match press conference.
“He’s a winner and has a winning mentality. He knows how to win: World Cup, Club World Cup.
“The game before the window transfer closed, we had [Crystal] Palace away. That helped a lot because I was quite focused on that game. The day after, [the transfer] happened, and we were all happy.
“Enzo is ready [to play]. It’s important that he’s here with us. When you belong to a squad and another winner arrives, [players] are always happy.
“I can promise you that in the last four, five days, four or five players from the squad were asking ‘is he coming? Is he not? They want him to be with us.”
Fernandez became City’s ninth signing of the transfer window, with Maresca delighted with the backing he has received in the transfer market as he takes on the unenviable task of succeeding Pep Guardiola.
“It’s [the backing] very important. One of the main things in any football club is when the owner and the club support the manager,” he added.
“It’s a very good thing. I’m very, very happy for the effort from the ownership, [chairman] Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], [director of football] Hugo [Viana]. very happy. Now the squad is complete; it’s finished and it’s time to work.”
City also marked deadline day by bringing in winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton in a £65m deal.
Maresca said of Ndiaye: “He’s so good. In the last two days, we can see already how good he is in terms of one-on-ones, the final third, inside the box. I’m very happy to have him.”
You Should Also Read
