Enzo Maresca says Omar Marmoush’s desire for more regular first-team football could influence whether the Egypt international remains at Manchester City, despite scoring twice in Sunday’s 3-1 friendly victory over Atletico Madrid.
Marmoush started the match and found the net twice as City secured the win, but Maresca indicated that his future at the club has not yet been settled. The manager said the forward’s frustration at limited opportunities last season would be an important factor in the decision-making process.
Asked by the Manchester Evening News whether Marmoush would stay at City, Maresca compared the situation with that of goalkeeper James Trafford.
“The answer has to be similar to the answer I give about James Trafford. The players train every day and they want to play, so when they do not play, they are not happy,” said Maresca.
The Italian added: “Omar did not play much last season, so it is likely that his desire is to get more minutes. That does not mean he will not get more minutes here, but it is also down to his decision, and to understanding his decision in detail.”
Marmoush’s goals against Atletico were both created by Ghana international Antoine Semenyo. The winger made progress down Atletico’s right defensive side before supplying the opportunities for Marmoush to score.
Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri completed the scoring for City after going through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Maresca was also asked about the position of Spain midfielder Rodri, amid reports linking him with a move away from Manchester City.
“At the moment, he will be in Manchester on Wednesday,” Maresca said.
Barcelona are reportedly holding intensive negotiations to sign the City midfielder, who has told the club that he wants to move to the Catalan side. Rodri is also said to be a target for Real Madrid.
City are preparing to face Arsenal in the Community Shield next Sunday. The fixture will be Maresca’s first competitive match in charge of the club following Pep Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad Stadium at the end of last season.
The friendly against Atletico offered an encouraging result for Maresca, with Marmoush making a decisive contribution and Ait-Nouri also finding the net. However, the manager’s comments suggest that the Egyptian forward’s role remains one of the issues still to be resolved before the start of the competitive campaign.
Marmoush’s wish for additional playing time is now central to discussions over his future. Maresca stressed that City could still provide those opportunities, but also made clear that the final outcome will depend on the player’s own preference and his assessment of his prospects at the club.
