Manchester City are in pre-season action this week, and their clash with Inter Milan in Hong Kong will naturally recall that famous Istanbul night when Rodri scored the winner in a Treble-securing Champions League final.
Three seasons on, Rodri is a major talking point of a busy City summer as the Blues seek to return to glory at home and abroad. Since that night in Turkey, City have not progressed beyond the Champions League quarter-finals and have not won the Premier League since 2024. Two domestic cup victories last season highlight their quality, but after Liverpool and then Arsenal claimed the top-flight title, City are eager to reassert themselves domestically and Europe.
New boss, familiar faces
Enzo Maresca has taken over following Pep Guardiola’s departure after a glittering decade. Maresca spoke of the privilege of returning to City for a third spell, having spent a season with the academy and another as Guardiola’s assistant during the Treble-winning campaign. He and City would welcome another season like that. Maresca’s time at Chelsea, where he won the Club World Cup by defeating a PSG side that had just won the Champions League, shows his ability to mastermind success against Europe’s best.
Domestically, champions Arsenal are favourites for the Premier League, but City have completed their biggest early business by signing Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116m. The Blues remain in the market for a winger and a right-back to compete with Matheus Nunes, and they are keen on Lille’s teenage prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi to bolster midfield.
Rodri’s pivotal role
While those additions would add depth, the biggest issue is Rodri. Fresh from winning the World Cup and being named the tournament’s best player, the midfielder is wanted by Real Madrid. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his City contract, with a new offer on the table but unsigned. It remains to be seen where he will be come September 1, but all at the Etihad hope he remains for at least one more season.
A pairing of Rodri and Anderson could claim to be the Premier League’s best, but perhaps more than what Rodri offers on the pitch is his off-field influence. He is a leader, a potential captain, and a player with experience to help City navigate a title race and develop younger players like Anderson and potentially Bouaddi.
Losing him, having already said goodbye to Bernardo Silva and John Stones this summer and seen vast experience depart over the past 18 months, would leave City short on difference-makers. It may be simplistic to say with Rodri City can be champions and without him they cannot, but it’s close to the truth—as shown by the relentless run early this year with Rodri and Bernardo together, which ended when Rodri picked up an injury in a victory over Arsenal that felt season-defining.
Squad strengths and question marks
Without Rodri, City stumbled at Everton and Arsenal never looked back. To overhaul the Gunners will be tough, but City have a capable squad. Gianluigi Donnarumma produced big moments in his debut campaign despite occasional errors, while Nico O’Reilly was a star and is the reigning Premier League Young Player of the Year. Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Marc Guehi, and Abdukodir Khusanov form a strong centre-back quartet, and Nunes improved at right-back. Further resources could strengthen that flank.
Anderson was a standout for Nottingham Forest last season and had a brilliant World Cup. Jeremy Doku showed his class repeatedly last term, Antoine Semenyo produced big moments after his January arrival, and Rayan Cherki enjoyed a superb debut campaign. Erling Haaland remains Erling Haaland.
City will want more from those who played less last season. Guardiola settled on an XI for the final months, leaving several out. Chief among them was Phil Foden, but after signing a new contract and a summer off having been left out of England’s World Cup squad, the 26-year-old has returned fit and eager to rekindle his relationship with Maresca.
Midfield and attacking uncertainties
Midfield duo Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders face questions over their long-term future at City, both struggling for consistency when called upon. Adding Bouaddi would bring another dimension, but relying on an 18-year-old would be a gamble. Up front, Omar Marmoush failed to impress in a campaign hampered by injury and the Africa Cup of Nations; the Egyptian could depart. Savinho looks set to leave, with long-term admirers Tottenham stepping up interest. James Trafford is also expected to go, while Mateo Kovacic could depart and Jack Grealish is likely to move on.
There are questions around City’s squad, but the first XI is strong with few weaknesses. Arsenal have yet to make a marquee addition and will want to strengthen while on top. Liverpool and Chelsea are under new management, and Michael Carrick at Manchester United faces a fresh challenge with European football returning. Tottenham could be revitalised after a big summer under Roberto De Zerbi, and Unai Emery may work more magic at Aston Villa despite selling talisman Morgan Rogers.
It is hard to claim any potential challenger to Arsenal’s title is in a better position than City. The final weeks of the window will be pivotal, but City look well-positioned.
Maresca confident
“It’s a challenge to try to do the right things immediately for this organisation, for the fans, for everyone,” said Maresca. “I’m confident that we can do a great job.” The next few weeks will go a long way to determining the success of the next 10 months.
