Iliman Ndiaye has only been a City player for a matter of days, but Enzo Maresca has already seen enough to be excited by his Deadline Day signing.
Ndiaye joined City from Everton on a five-year deal and has spent the past couple of days working with his new team-mates ahead of today’s game against Coventry.
It hasn’t taken Maresca long to form an impression.
“He is so good,” said the City boss.
Maresca highlighted Ndiaye’s quality in one-v-one situations, the final third and inside the penalty area before adding that he was “very happy” to have the Senegal international in his squad.
Ndiaye adds to City’s attacking options
It is easy to see why those particular qualities appeal to Maresca.
Ndiaye built a reputation at Everton as a player willing to receive the ball, run at defenders and make things happen in attacking areas.
Now he has considerably more competition for a place.
Rayan Cherki has started the season with two goals, while Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden have both started City’s opening Premier League games. Jérémy Doku will provide another option when he returns from injury.
Ndiaye therefore isn’t guaranteed anything simply because City paid heavily to bring him to the Etihad.
But he does arrive match-sharp after featuring in Everton’s opening games of the season and is available against Coventry this afternoon.
Whether Maresca throws him straight in remains to be seen.
What is already clear is that Ndiaye has made an impression remarkably quickly.
Two days of training have been enough for Maresca to see exactly why City wanted him.
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