Enzo Maresca has refused to clarify whether Omar Marmoush will remain at Manchester City, while confirming that Jeremy Doku is expected to miss between two and three weeks with a calf injury.
Maresca was speaking at a news conference before Manchester City’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. He also addressed the club’s remaining transfer plans, Savinho’s proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur and reported interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Asked about the start of the new campaign, Maresca said: “I feel very excited to start this new chapter and this new journey. Our aim is to continue along the same path we have followed over the past 10 or 15 years, so we are very happy finally to play our first match at home.”
Manchester City still have 10 days remaining in the transfer window, but Maresca said there was no fixed number of arrivals the club was targeting.
“We do not have a minimum or maximum number of signings because it depends on certain factors,” he said. “We know exactly what we need and we will see what happens over the next 10 days. We have 10 days ahead of us and hopefully we can carry out what we are planning.”
Maresca dismissed the prospect of discussing a move for Enzo Fernandez, who is under contract at Chelsea.
“Unfortunately, I always have to answer in the same way: Enzo is a Chelsea player and I will not talk about players who are not part of our squad,” he said. “I see that as disrespectful and I do not like other managers talking about our players.”
The Manchester City manager said he had studied Bournemouth, including their pre-season fixture and several matches from last season, and praised the identity established under Andoni Iraola.
“I also watched their pre-season match and followed some of their games last season,” he said. “You can clearly see their identity. They are a team with an attacking style and intense pressing. They were like that under Andoni Iraola and they still are. It is very clear what they do, whether they have the ball or not.”
Doku’s injury was sustained during the team’s most recent match. Maresca said the winger complained of discomfort in his calf at half-time, although his replacement had already been planned.
“During the last match, Doku complained of some pain in his calf at half-time,” he said. “We did not want him to play more than 45 minutes, so replacing him was already planned. The current estimate is that he will be out for between two and three weeks, and no longer than that.”
Maresca also explained why Savinho’s situation differed from that of Rodri and Marmoush.
“It is very clear that when a player wants to leave, it becomes complicated to convince him to stay,” he said. “That happened with Rodri and the same situation is now happening with Savinho. He expressed his desire to leave from the first day he arrived and we are waiting to see what happens now.”
He added: “Apart from Rodri, they all have one thing in common: they have not played many matches. When players do not play, they prefer to leave. The players I mentioned, apart from Rodri, are all players who have not had many opportunities to play, for different reasons.”
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Brazilian winger Savinho in a deal that could eventually be worth £85m.
On Marmoush, Maresca said: “I do not know. Omar is still here and he is still with us. He is different from Savinho, so we will see what happens.”
He added: “Usually, things become complicated when a player leaves and you need to sign a replacement. We will see whether Omar stays or not. If someone leaves, then someone else has to come in.”
Maresca said Savinho had wanted to leave from the beginning, whereas Marmoush had not.
“From the first day, Savinho asked to leave, while Omar Marmoush did not ask to leave from the first day,” he said.
Tottenham Hotspur are also in advanced negotiations with Manchester City over a possible move for Marmoush. Reports indicate that the Egypt international has agreed personal terms with Tottenham, although discussions between the two clubs over the fee and structure of the deal are still continuing.
