Enzo Maresca says City must find the “new Rodri” after the midfielder’s departure, while admitting Rayan Cherki made his unhappiness at being left out against Bournemouth abundantly clear.
Rodri joined Barcelona in a deal worth approximately £65.4m, leaving City to rebuild a midfield which had been shaped around him.
City have since agreed a deal worth up to €100m for Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Elliot Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Maresca pointed to City’s record of replacing influential players rather than attempting to replicate them directly.
“When they leave, you need to be good in recruiting the next one,” he said.
Maresca referenced the succession from David Silva to Kevin De Bruyne and from Fernandinho to Rodri, adding that City must now attempt to identify another player capable of developing at the Etihad.
Cherki makes his point from the bench
Cherki was disappointed not to start Sunday’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth, something Maresca was happy to acknowledge afterwards.
“If he’s next to me and he’s not happy, you all realise that he’s not happy,” Maresca joked.
The France international produced the required response on the pitch.
Cherki’s corner was headed in by Marc Guéhi for City’s equaliser before his pass released Joško Gvardiol to score the stoppage-time winner.
His frustration may have been obvious, but so was his impact. For Maresca, it was an early example of the competition for places he wants within his new-look squad.
