Retaining Rodri is key to Manchester City success under Enzo Maresca

<p>New manager’s No 1 priority must be to persuade World Cup-winning captain to stay as Real Madrid circle</p><p>“Welcome home,” was Khaldoon al-Mubarak’s warm greeting to Enzo Maresca on <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/29/enzo-maresca-confirmed-as-manchester-city-manager-on-three-year-deal">his appointment last month</a> as Manchester City manager. Now, after two previous spells at the club, the Italian’s task is to keep the chair content, and ensure a three-year contract does not end early. To achieve that, Maresca’s tenure must continue Pep Guardiola’s glittering legacy of 20 trophies across a decade of excellence.</p><p>The key to the 46-year-old, who was Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 treble season and City’s elite development squad leader two years before that, being successful can be summed up in two words: “Keep Rodri”. Yet with Real Madrid almost certain to launch a bid for the peerless No 6, and him seemingly wanting to play for the Spanish giants, a move away from City may become inevitable.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/28/retaining-rodri-is-key-to-manchester-city-success-under-enzo-maresca">Continue reading...</a>