Manchester City will attempt to identify a successor to Rodri after the Spain captain completed his move to La Liga champions Barcelona, manager Enzo Maresca says.
Rodri left City earlier this week after seven seasons at the Etihad Stadium, joining Barcelona on a four-year contract after the Catalan club agreed a fee worth about £65m.
The 30-year-old midfielder established himself as one of the finest players in world football during his time with City. He won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, four Premier League titles and scored the only goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
Rodri also captained Spain to World Cup success during the summer before leaving City, where he made nearly 300 appearances.
Asked how City would replace such an influential player, Maresca said: “How do we solve that problem? We try to find the new Rodri; it is what it is.
“[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.”
Rodri had entered the final 12 months of his contract at City. Although the Premier League club offered him an extension, negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
Maresca said City had faced similar challenges when other major players departed, only for the club to recruit replacements who went on to make their own mark.
“I was thinking on Thursday night, when David Silva was here, everyone was worried, and Kevin [De Bruyne] arrived. When Sergio [Aguero] was here, everyone was worried [when he was going to leave] and Erling [Haaland] arrived. Fernandinho? Rodri arrived.
“When they leave, you need to be good in recruiting the next one. They are all similar, David, Kevin, Fernandinho, Rodri, Erling – there is one more – it is normal, it is change, it is not a problem, go again and try to do the right things.”
City preparing for busy final days
City are expected to remain active in the transfer market, with further arrivals and departures possible before the window closes.
They have already broken their club transfer record to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £115m.
The club are also in advanced discussions over a deal for Lille’s Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi. BBC Sport understands City have not abandoned their hopes of signing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
City are additionally interested in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister.
There could also be movement in the opposite direction, with Tottenham agreeing a £75m fee for Brazilian winger Savinho. Tottenham are also negotiating to sign City team-mate Omar Marmoush.
Maresca acknowledged that the final stage of the transfer window can be difficult for clubs, particularly when players are considering leaving.
“I think it’s a feeling for most of the clubs, not all of the clubs because some clubs probably prefer to do the business at the beginning or at the end of the previous season.
“I think we are almost in the same situation as all of the clubs. There are 10 days to go; hopefully we can do the things that we need to do.
“It doesn’t help that there are players that, for different reasons, want to leave; that is for sure, but we need to adapt, and also we don’t want to keep players here who don’t want to stay, for sure.
“Probably the normal thing in the transfer window is that you have to wait until the last week, because all the clubs try to keep players until the last week and then sell for more money. It’s normal.”
