Early season disaster: Maresca calls for reinforcements at Man City

A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the very first competitive fixture meant Enzo Maresca's debut for Man City was one to forget. Following the match, the Italian tactician promptly stated that the Etihad outfit would keep adding to their roster before the transfer market shuts.

The Enzo Maresca era at Manchester City could not have started in a more difficult way. In the Community Shield match against Arsenal, the blue side was beaten 3-0 by their opponents, barely managing to mount a proper response.

Right after the defeat, Maresca made no secret of his intention to continue strengthening the squad.

“We already knew before the match what we needed to do. It's not because we lost this game that we think differently. There will definitely be more moves before the transfer window closes,”Maresca stated.

However, the Italian coach insisted this was not a hasty reaction to the loss against Arsenal. The plan to upgrade the squad had been set by Man City beforehand, and the Community Shield result did not change the club's direction.

In reality, Man City spent heavily this summer. Elliot Anderson arrived at the Etihad for a fee of £116 million, becoming the most expensive signing in the club's history. Meanwhile, City are also closing in on Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old midfielder from Lille, in a deal that could be worth up to £85 million.

When asked directly about Bouaddi, Maresca refused to comment on a player still under contract with Lille. However, he did not hide his desire for the next new signings to arrive as soon as possible.

The need to strengthen the midfield became even more urgent when Rodri is preparing to leave the Etihad. According to British media, Man City have accepted a £65.4 million offer from Barcelona, while the Spanish midfielder has also agreed to a four-year contract with the Catalan club.

That is a particularly huge loss for Man City. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner spent seven seasons at the Etihad, making 298 appearances and winning 12 major trophies, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League. Rodri also scored the decisive goal in the 2023 Champions League final, helping Man City complete a historic treble.

Not only Rodri, but Man City's midfield has also undergone significant personnel changes following the departures of Bernardo Silva and Reijnder. Therefore, Anderson and Bouaddi are not merely depth signings; they are part of Maresca's major rebuilding plan.

Another notable name is Enzo Fernandez. The Chelsea midfielder previously worked under Maresca at Stamford Bridge and remains on Man City's radar. Chelsea had set a price tag of £120 million and imposed a deadline for City to submit an offer, but the Etihad club did not meet that demand.

However, the deal is not completely closed. The Guardian reports that Man City could still explore the possibility of signing Enzo, especially with Rodri set to leave the team.

The 3-0 loss to Arsenal thus serves as an early warning for Maresca. Man City still possess an expensive squad, but they must both adapt to a new system and face the huge void left by the pillars of the Guardiola era.

Maresca wants more reinforcements, and with Rodri about to leave, Man City probably have little choice. The final weeks of the transfer window will play a crucial role in determining the shape of the blue side in their first season after Pep Guardiola.