Mariska: We must find a new Rodri

Italian coach Enzo Maresca of Manchester City has affirmed that the club is capable of finding a suitable replacement for Spanish midfielder Rodri, who joined Barcelona this week after spending seven years with the team.

Maresca noted that the club is accustomed to offsetting the departure of its key players by signing new talents capable of stepping into their roles, adding, “We must try to find the new Rodri; that is the reality.”

The official Manchester City website quoted Maresca as saying, “When Rodri joined the club, he had not yet won the Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Champions League, or the FIFA Club World Cup. Since joining the team, he has achieved numerous major honors. Our goal now is to try to find the new Rodri.”

Maresca cited several former and current Manchester City stars, stating, “I was thinking about this: when David Silva was here, everyone was worried, and then Kevin De Bruyne arrived; when Sergio Aguero was here, everyone was worried, and then Erling Haaland came.”