Rodri’s Manchester City Departure Sparks Shockwave: Could Enzo Fernandez Reunite with Enzo Maresca?
Rodri‘s potential departure from Manchester City has emerged as one of the defining storylines of the 2026 summer transfer window, with FC Barcelona aggressively pursuing his signature. However, an exit by the Spanish midfielder could trigger a high-profile domino effect, with Manchester City reportedly targeting Enzo Fernandez to reunite the Argentine with manager Enzo Maresca.
While Maresca has publicly stated that he expects Rodri to report back when Manchester City resume training, the midfielder’s long-term future appears to lie outside of England. After choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid, the Catalan club now need to strike an agreement with the Premier League champions on a fee expected to land near €55 million (around $60 million USD), with a player potentially included to finalize the deal.
Final details regarding Rodri’s departure remain unresolved, and the player is scheduled to report to training on Friday, just two days prior to the Community Shield clash against Arsenal. Nevertheless, his likelihood of leaving remains far higher than his chances of staying, and a departure would force Manchester City into the market to reinforce their central midfield.
Maresca pursuing reunion with Enzo Fernandez
According to Argentina insider Gaston Edul, Manchester City’s interest in Enzo Fernandez is “100% concrete” rather than exploratory. The driving force behind the potential move is Maresca, who previously managed the Argentine midfielder at Chelsea and wants to integrate him into Manchester City’s system.
Enzo Fernandez speaks with Chelsea FC head coach Enzo Maresca during a training session. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Edul noted that Fernandez’s status at Chelsea remains fluid, with his immediate future expected to be resolved in the coming days. Under the current circumstances, reports suggest the Argentine favors a move to the Etihad Stadium over remaining at Stamford Bridge for another campaign.
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Chelsea’s asking price for Fernandez is set at £120 million (around $156 million USD), a slight increase over the £107 million fee paid to Benfica to acquire him in January 2023. However, according to talkSPORT and transfer expert Ben Jacobs, that valuation could be negotiable as Chelsea are prepared to sell, though timing will prove critical with less than a month remaining in the transfer window and the Premier League season launching in two weeks.
Throughout their initial preseason fixtures, particularly during their summer tour in Seoul, South Korea, Manchester City deployed Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders in a double pivot, with Nico Gonzalez providing depth. Losing Rodri would create a significant void in central midfield, making the acquisition of Fernandez a logical move to restore balance and provide a proven international replacement.
Relationship with Maresca a decisive factor for Fernandez
Chelsea’s defining characteristic in recent years has been instability on the touchline, with Fernandez playing under eight different managers since joining the club in January 2023. However, during that chaotic period, the Argentine midfielder established his strong rapport with Maresca.
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During his tenure at Stamford Bridge beginning in July 2024, the Italian manager led Chelsea to titles in the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League and the revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. However, following a string of poor domestic results and friction with club executives, Maresca resigned in December 2025 after less than 18 months in charge.
Following his departure, Fernandez published a heartfelt message on social media dedicated to his former manager. “Mister, thank you for everything we shared and experienced during this stage. I learned a lot and truly value every piece of advice and each experience… We won two titles together that I will never forget. Much success to all of you, and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.” While current Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expects Fernandez in his squad, a chance to reunite with Maresca could prove to be the deciding factor in pushing the move through.
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