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Mariska’s biggest mystery
Manchester City enter one of the most sensitive phases of their modern history, after the curtain came down on the Pep Guardiola era that spanned a full decade and the club began a new chapter under Enzo Maresca.
Between the rebuilding of the squad, the departure of a number of prominent stars of the historic “trilogy” and the growing doubts about Rodri’s future, the former England champion is faced with a decision that could shape the characteristics of his new project for years.
Will the club keep hold of one of the best midfielders in the world despite his injury and the end of his contract? Or will he take the opportunity to make a big financial return, given Real Madrid’s interest? More importantly, what Mariska’s midfield will look like whether Rodri stays or leaves.
Transition period and extensive changes
“Manchester City” is going through a transition period, full of challenges and changes. Replacing a coach who has successfully led a team for ten years is no easy task, especially with clear instructions for a complete team rebuild.
This summer saw the departure of four mainstays who contributed to the historic treble during the 2022-2023 season, namely Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
On the other hand, the club strengthened their ranks with the £116m signing of Elliott Anderson, in addition to English talent Jeremy Monga, 17 years old. However, the changes may not be limited to that.
After leading Spain to the World Cup, Rodri is set to undergo back surgery with just one year left on his contract at Manchester City amid growing speculation over his future.
Although it is unclear how long he will be out of action, Enzo Maresca has decided his position inside His first press conferenceconfirming his desire to keep the Spanish star.
However, the news linking Real Madrid with Rodri’s involvement opens the door to many questions. Or would it be preferable to sell it after it has been restored and you have profited financially from the deal?
Why is Mariska clinging to Rhodri?
When Rodri returned from a torn ACL last season, many doubted he could recapture the form that made him one of the world’s most popular players.
But Pep Guardiola was confident of his return and said last October: “At the World Cup we will see the best of Rodri and next season we will see the best of him as well.”
Indeed, the player proved these expectations right after he led the Spanish national team to the World Cup title and won the tournament’s best player award.
When Maresca was asked about Rhodri’s future, he did not hesitate to answer, saying: “Any coach in the world would like to have a player like Rodri because he is an exceptional player. He will have an operation on Monday and now he needs to rest and recover and then he will come back to us.”
These statements confirm that the club’s main plan is to keep one of the best midfielders in the world, while preparing alternatives in anticipation of any scenario.
How will Maresca build his midfield?
Within the future plans of the club, Elliott Anderson stands out as one of the most important elements of the new project. “Manchester City” continues to follow “Lille’s” French midfielder, Moroccan Ayoub Bouadi (18 years old), who attracted attention while participating in the World Cup with the Moroccan national team.
The club is looking for young players with tactical flexibility and the ability to play in more than one position in a system based on possession and position.
But to understand the role of Rodri, Anderson and perhaps Bouadi, one must first understand Maresca’s philosophy. The Italian coach is one of the most prominent proponents of “positional play” and compares football to a game of chess.
Maresca says: “There are many similarities between them. The most important thing is tactical thinking and correct positioning.” His philosophy is based on the (3-2-2-3) attacking formation, which depends on constant exchange of positions.
One of Rhodri’s most notable strengths is his ability to play more than one position in this tactical drawing. At the World Cup, he would again drop into the center of defense when Aymeric Laporte carried the ball forward, then return to a central player position before moving forward when needed.
Maresca’s style relies on great tactical flexibility to allow the team to switch from defending in a (4-4-2) formation to attacking in a (3-2-2-3) formation, according to the BBC.BBC:“.
During the Treble season, John Stones moved forward from central defense to midfield alongside Rodri, an idea Maresca was one of the architects of when he served as Guardiola’s assistant coach.
He used the same idea at Chelsea when he used Moises Caicedo as a right-back who turns into a defensive midfielder when in possession, giving the team a numerical superiority in depth.
Why is Anderson such a perfect deal?
Elliott Anderson’s value lies in his ability to play more than one position. During his career, he played various roles in midfield and attack, and also dropped back with England to form a five-line defense when the ball was lost.
Alongside Rodri, Anderson can play as a central player, allowing the Spaniard to move forward or vice versa. The duo can also constantly switch roles to keep the team balanced, especially when defenders such as Mark Gehey or Joshco Guardiol are moving forward with the ball.
Manchester City will be hoping that Anderson can replicate the success of the partnership between Rodri and Bernardo Silva, thanks to his versatile roles and ability to handle different tactical duties.
Ayoub Buadi also has qualities similar to Anderson. He played as a holding midfielder, right-back and centre-back and stood out for his defensive strength and composure when building play. His roles are very similar to what John Stones played in the Manchester City system.
The club is betting on intelligent players who are adept at playing in more than one position, giving Mariska great tactical flexibility, similar to what Luis Enrique offers with Paris Saint-Germain. But reaching this level requires time and long technical work.
Why is City chasing my promise?
Ayoub Bouadi has been linked with a contract with Lille that runs until the summer of 2029 after he signed a new deal in December last year, but all indications are that his long-term stay at Stade Pierre Maurois looks unlikely.
With interest from Europe’s leading players growing, Lille realized that keeping hold of his gem would not be an easy task, especially if a suitable financial offer arrived.
As Ayoub Bouadi moves closer to establishing himself as one of Europe’s hottest developing midfielders, talk of his future has begun to grow amid increasing interest from the continent’s seniors.
Lille are not averse to exploring the idea of selling the player if they receive a suitable offer, but the asking price could make it very difficult for many clubs to complete the deal.
It is thought that Lille could ask for around €100 million, a sum that reflects the club’s belief that Bouadi is not only a promising talent, but one of the most valuable young players in European football.
Despite the high price, Manchester City stand out as the most serious club in the race to sign him. City consider Bouadi their priority in the transfer market and expect the player to make a decision on his future in the coming period.
Reports suggest that some clubs are willing to buy the player, allowing him to stay in Lille for one more season to continue his development, but Manchester City prefers to sign him immediately and integrate him directly into the first team, especially since the midfielder position is one of his main priorities in the current Mercato.
What if Rhodri leaves?
Rodri’s presence remains the best option for “Manchester City”. The player has a unique ability to read the game, position himself and control the tone of the game, which could take Anderson and the rookies years to acquire.
Perhaps the best testament to this is that it took Rodri a couple of seasons himself before he became a true leader in City’s midfield after learning so much alongside Fernandinho.
However, Maresca has proven in the past that he has the ability to transform players into new positions, as he did with John Stones, Moises Caicedo, Mark Cucurella and others.
Therefore, whether Rodri stays or leaves, the Italian coach is looking to create a more humanly diverse squad with a roster that includes a greater number of players who can fill different roles, a clear shift from Guardiola’s philosophy, which often relied on a limited squad.
After all, Rodri’s future may be the biggest headline this summer, but it’s not the only issue at Manchester City. The success of Marisca’s project will depend on whether he can create a flexible squad system that can compete with the Spanish star in or out.
