Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca, has said the club must find a suitable successor to Rodri following the midfielder’s move to Barcelona.
Rodri ended his seven-year spell with City earlier this week after completing a reported £65 million transfer to Barcelona.
The 30-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Spanish champions after establishing himself as one of the finest midfielders in world football.
During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Rodri won four Premier League titles and scored the decisive goal in City’s 1-0 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in 2023.
He also claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or and helped Spain win the World Cup.
Asked how City would replace a player of Rodri’s influence, Maresca said, “We try to find the new Rodri, it is what it is.”
The Italian manager noted that Rodri had yet to reach the peak of his career when he joined City.
“Before Rodri arrived here, he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, he didn’t win the Champions League, he didn’t win the Club World Cup.
“He joined the club, then he achieved many important things,” Maresca said.
Rodri made close to 300 appearances for City and had entered the final year of his contract before leaving.
The club had attempted to extend his deal, but the negotiations ultimately failed.
Maresca pointed to City’s history of successfully replacing influential players as evidence that the club can move forward without the Spanish midfielder.
“When David Silva was here, everyone was worried, and Kevin [De Bruyne] arrived,” he said.
“When Sergio [Aguero] was here, everyone was worried [about] when he was going to leave and Erling [Haaland] arrived. Fernandinho? Rodri arrived.”
He added that City must continue to make the right recruitment decisions whenever a key player departs.
“When they leave, you need to be good in recruiting the next one,” he added.
“They are all similar: David, Kevin, Fernandinho, Rodri, Erling. It is normal, it is change, it is not a problem. Go again and try to do the right things.”
