Enzo Maresca's telling Enzo Fernandez answer as Man City boss talks transfers, Rodri and Reijnders

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca faced the media on Friday ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal on Sunday

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca delivered several transfer updates during his first pre-match news conference ahead of the Community Shield with Arsenal on Sunday.

Maresca wouldn't be drawn on City's interest in Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea but did deliver a transfer update with a smile while talking about possible arrivals.

He also spoke about Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders amid likely exits for both with the latter closing in on a £52million move to Al-Qadsiah.

The Blues boss also delivered an injury update with only Ryan McAidoo a fitness concern with a shoulder issue, albeit Savinho missed training on Thursday through injury.

The traditional season curtain-raiser will be Maresca's first competitive match in charge of City against the team that beat them to the title last season in Arsenal.

Catch up with the press conference below...

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Key Events

The full picture with Reijnders

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Midfield transfer latest

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Enzo Fernandez latest

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Haaland fitness

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Rodri latest

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When will we hear from Maresca?

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Maresca on reinventing City's midfield

It's a big challenge. First of all because Bernardo [Silva] showed how good he is on the ball, off the ball, in these years but again Elliot [Anderson], we are completely sure that he's going to do a great job for this club in the next few years. No doubt about that. They are different players, but we are going to try to use Elliot in the best way for him and for the team.

Maresca on mentality

It's important that we continue to grow and improve. I think pre-season has been good because game after game the team has improved. Now pre-season is finished we need to compete, win games and titles. What I want to see it's the right spirit, to continue to improve, the right mentality to win games and titles.

The full picture with Reijnders

Enzo Maresca said everybody is in agreement that the best decision for Tijjani Reijnders is to leave Manchester City after just one year. The Dutch international only joined the club last summer but has already got an exit lined up.

Saudi club Al Qadsiah have agreed to buy the midfielder for £52m, with a deal expected to be completed soon. Reijnders was with the squad in Manchester on Thursday but took no part in a training session played out in front of fans at the City Football Academy.

Reijnders was used by Maresca in three pre-season friendlies in Asia, but the new coach indicated on Friday that the player had already decided to leave before the Italian arrived after a frustrating year with Pep Guardiola. With that being accepted, the club have worked to find Reijnders a move elsewhere.

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Injury latest

Enzo Maresca has a near fully-fit squad to choose from ahead of the trip to Cardiff. Only Ryan McAidoo is not at 100 per cent, albeit Savinho missed training yesterday through illness

The only one is Ryan McAidoo. He had a small problem in pre-season, but he's already worked with us so everyone is fit. Knowing that some of them have arrived just two days ago.

Enzo on Arsenal

Arsenal have shown in the last two or three or four, five years, that they are always there. It is a fantastic team from Mikel. Last year, they won the Premier League, they showed how good they are in this moment. But at the same time, we are City and we're going to try to close the gap and compete.

Midfield transfer latest

Enzo Maresca doesn't expect Manchester City to complete any transfer business on Friday amid reports of a Chelsea deadline for Enzo Fernandez. The West London club are believed to have said they will only countenance a sale for their midfielder until 5pm on Friday, August 14, but Maresca smiled as he suggested City would not be complying with that.

Fernandez is of interest to City despite vehement denials from the club earlier this summer but, like much of their business, there are significant hurdles to overcome. A £120m fee would shatter the club transfer record for the second time in a summer and Chelsea have their own conditions that must be met for a sale.

City still need to find a replacement for Rodri though despite the Spain midfielder returning to the Etihad on Friday. Barcelona are keen to sign the midfielder but have not been keen enough to make any of their two offers come close to City's valuation of the player.

Read the full story here

Maresca on strengthening the squad

For sure there are things we need to do. For now, how many, I don't know. It can be one, it can be two. Depends also if players are going to leave. It depends. Now in this moment, 48 hours before a final, my first in this club, my focus in this moment is not about players leaving or arriving, it's just how we can prepare the best way in the game and try to win the final.

Enzo Fernandez latest

In this moment I have to give you the same answer since day one, which will be always the same. He is a player from another club and I don't think it's correct to talk about other players.

Haaland fitness

Enzo Maresca confirms that Erling Haaland is fine after sitting out the last few minutes of training on Thursday

Rodri latest

As I have already said, the window is open. We can buy players, sell players. Anything can happen. I just saw Rodri now in the building, I just gave him a big hug and we will see what happens.

Here's Enzo

The City boss is in for his first pre match press conference ahead of the Community Shield with Arsenal.

It's the official dawn of a new era!

Ten minutes to go!

We are expecting to hear from Maresca shortly.

Stay tuned...

On the agenda

There are several potential topics on the agenda for today's press conference:

Rodri future

Reijnders latest

Fernandez bid?

Team and injury news

Thoughts ahead of the new season

Arsenal challenge

When will we hear from Maresca?

City's head coach will be speaking to the media at 11am. So not too long to wait until we hear what he has to say.

City's unsung summer success story

In a transfer window that could become one like no other at Manchester City, one aspect of the Blues' summer business has gone under the radar. City are set for a significant few weeks in the transfer window, with Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders likely to depart, with replacements sought for both. City are also continuing to work on a deal for teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi and want to sign a winger - a move that will be hastened should Savinho leave amid longstanding interest from Tottenham.

But in among all the transfer chatter, the Blues have quietly tied down four of their key players to long-term contracts. Jeremy Doku became the latest to extend his Etihad stay, following Phil Foden, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol in penning fresh terms.

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Rodri's on his way back

As expected, Rodri is on his way back to England and should be in Manchester today. He was spotted last night on a Ryanair flight from Madrid bound for Liverpool.

City transfer truth no-one wants to accept

City could conceivably spend £300m on central midfielders this summer, an outlay that has plenty quoting a slightly lower figure in a mixture of anger, disbelief and ignorance at how the Blues can splash such cash. Until a decision is finally reached on the outstanding 115 charges, that mud will continue to be splattered in City's direction. But if those furious at a club spending so much on new talent wanted to look, there are more subtle explanations than crying financial foul play.

For one, few can match the revenues City are able to rake in, with the Blues earning £694.1m in the financial year ending June 30, 2025, albeit with a marginal loss of £9.9m, and more than £700m in the two years prior to that.

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Transfer questions

While reporters will be assembled to preview Sunday's clash with Arsenal, plenty of time in today's press conference will be devoted to the transfer situations of several players. Rodri, Savinho, Reijnders and Marmoush have all been linked with moves away. In terms of incomings, we could see Enzo Fernandez brought up after reports Chelsea have set a deadline of 5pm today for City to bid for the Argentine midfielder.

Marker for City

This weekend's game will not decide the title race, both teams will be stronger over the course of the season. However, this is a good marker for new boss Maresca to see where his side are at. A strong performance will set City up nicely for the Premier League opener a week on Sunday.

Six City stars return to training

A clutch of Manchester City's World Cup stars return to training at the Etihad today as the countdown to the Community Shield clash with Arsenal continues - but Rodri was not among them. The Blues returned from their summer tour of Asia immediately after Sunday's 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid before the squad were given a couple of days off to adjust back to life in the UK.

City were back in training on Wednesday with six senior stars returning to the CFA after post-World Cup breaks. Those players who went as far as the last eight in North America were given the summer tour off meaning several senior stars are only joining Enzo Maresca's squad this week.

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Reijnders exit and two City players' absences explained

Reijnders is in advanced talks with Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah as a £50million deal advances. Reijnders was present at City’s open training session on Thursday but is in talks over a move to the Middle East and looks set to depart the Etihad just a year after arriving from AC Milan. He didn't take part in the session as those talks accelerate.

Reijnders had attracted interest from Nottingham Forest this summer but it's Al Qadsiah who are set to secure the 28-year-old’s signature.

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Five things spotted at City training

City's first team players were put through their paces in front of a large crowd during an open training session on Thursday afternoon at the Joie Stadium. The Blues held a City Are Back event with entertainment, interviews and activities on the eve of the new season, with plenty of kids and families watching on in the sweltering summer holiday heat.

City welcomed back all their World Cup stars to training on Wednesday, aside from Rodri, who is due back on Friday. The likes of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku - fresh from signing his new contract - were among those to train in the heat under the watchful eye of boss Enzo Maresca, who addressed the crowd after the session along with record signing Elliot Anderson.

Read more here>>>

Hello!

Hello and welcome to the Maresca press conference blog! Competitive football is back this weekend but it feels almost secondary to what is happening off the pitch. A number of players have been linked with exits this week. On Thursday, Reijnders closed in on a permanent departure to Al Qadsiah. Meanwhile, Barcelona were informed by City they would need to bid £70m for Rodri this summer. Savinho missed open training on Thursday amid speculation he could leave for Spurs. However, the club confirmed he was absent due to illness.

With all that going on, we can expect transfer business to dominate the press conference. However, we should also receive team news updates ahead of the Community Shield. Haaland and Anderson were among the World Cup stars returning to Manchester this week and they trained on Thursday. How their minutes are managed this weekend remains to be seen.

Stay tuned for updates...

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