Manchester City have reached an agreement to offload Rodri to Barcelona but must work quickly to bring in signings that will energise supporters
Ayyoub Bouaddi playing for Lille versus Everton at the weekend
Finally, some forward momentum. While Jamie Carragher urged City to scrap Rodri’s move, in reality confirmation was necessary.
Whatever burden this places on Enzo Maresca and however tough it is for supporters to bid farewell, City do not prioritise retaining disatisfied players when the financial terms are attractive. Following two approaches from Barcelona that fell considerably below expectations, a deal was struck last week to conclude Rodri’s seven-year stint at the club.
Having accompanied the squad throughout last season despite his injury problems, being the final arrival for pre-season training and then failing to feature in Cardiff for the Community Shield offered clear signals. As Maresca observed this week, persuading players to remain becomes impossible once their minds are already made up.
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Nonetheless, this does not ease supporters’ disappointment after the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal delivered the eventual news that the world’s finest midfielder is departing. Mateo Kovacic struggled to cope in Sunday’s loss when deployed as the sole defensive midfielder and, while excessive conclusions should not be drawn from a single friendly, City appear lacking the quality needed to challenge Arsenal effectively or dominate their opening Premier League fixtures.
What they require is action of their own. Confirmation of the Ayyoub Bouaddi signing, advancement with Enzo Fernandez, or pursuit of another central midfielder – the specific response matters less than City and their organisation acting decisively.
Bouaddi represents the closest to completion but with negotiations ongoing for so long and no competing interest beyond Lille’s reluctance to sell, initial enthusiasm has faded. It will return naturally, yet a teenager cannot serve as a direct replacement for a World Cup winner when that player adds to the experience that has already departed through the Etihad exits this summer.
Moving for Fernandez would constitute a major declaration of ambition, regardless of the reservations many supporters harbour about the transfer. With Chelsea apparently setting an informal deadline, making a substantial offer to pressure a rival into selling would send a powerful signal if the deal materialises.
As occurred in 2019 after a 5-2 home defeat by Leicester when City met the asking price for Ruben Dias, the Blues find themselves at a juncture where action is essential. Whether it proves to be the correct decision or not, the club must have confidence it will prove sufficient for their requirements.
Critics might argue this represents an overreaction to a pre-season reversal, certainly, yet City have been stalled for considerable time. Securing Elliot Anderson before the World Cup concluded represented sound business, yet insufficient activity has followed and City appear underprepared for the campaign’s start.
There remain merely two matches before the transfer window shuts, yet that timing could prove decisive given how the season concluded last term. How differently might recent history have unfolded had City avoided losing two of their opening three fixtures after leaving so much business until the summer’s final days?
Maresca made the obvious point publicly following the Arsenal setback, stating that rapid recruitment would benefit everyone. Offloading Rodri constitutes welcome progress, yet City must now demonstrate they can act swiftly on replacements to signal their intent heading into the new season.