Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has addressed the club's strategy for replacing midfielder Rodri following his £65 million transfer to Barcelona.

Rodri departed the Etihad Stadium after a successful seven-season tenure in which he secured four Premier League titles, the 2023 Champions League, and the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Although contract extension talks stalled as he entered the final year of his deal, Maresca emphasized that the club remains confident in its ability to transition effectively.

Drawing parallels to past departures, Maresca noted that Manchester City has consistently recruited world-class successors for departing legends. He highlighted previous successful transitions, including Kevin De Bruyne succeeding David Silva, Erling Haaland stepping in for Sergio Aguero, and Rodri himself taking over the defensive midfield role from Fernandinho.

Maresca stressed that Rodri had developed into a global star after joining Manchester City rather than arriving with that status. The manager concluded that the club's primary focus moving forward is maintaining high standards in recruitment to identify and integrate the next pivotal player.