Enzo Maresca has hinted Manchester City will not pursue a deal for Enzo Fernandez after confirming they won’t meet Chelsea’s deadline for the sale of the midfielder.
The London club said earlier in the week that any party interested in the Argentina international had to have met their terms – which includes a transfer fee of £120m – by 5pm UK time today for any deal to progress.
And with Maresca ruling out any business on Friday, it appears City will look elsewhere.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal, he said: “Not today, to be honest. I don’t think we’re going to do something today.”
Maresca worked with Fernandez last season at Stamford Bridge and was keen on bringing him to the Etihad. Asked specifically about the former Benfica man, he added: “In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one and it will always be the same; it’s a player from another club and I don’t think it’s correct to speak about other players. At the same time, I don’t think it’s correct when other clubs speak about our players. That’s why I’m not going to say nothing about players that are not with us.”
Rodri back at City and given ‘big hug’ by his boss
Fernandez was being discussed due to the probability of Rodri leaving this summer.
The Spain captain, who lifted the World Cup trophy last month, reported back to the Etihad Campus this morning to have his back assessed following a minor operation.
Rodri has been the subject of two failed bids from Barcelona but it is likely the 30-year-old will secure a move to Camp Nou after expressing his desire to return to his homeland rather than extend his contract that will expire at the end of the season.
Maresca added: ”First of all, the transfer window is open; we can buy players, we can sell players, anything can happen. I just saw Rodri now in the building, I gave him a big hug, he looks good, so we’ll see what happens.”
City are likely to lose one midfielder with Tijjani Reijnders on the brink of joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah in a £52m deal.
“It’s a bit difficult to convince players [to stay] when they are already convinced [to leave], said Maresca. “Tijjani [Reijnders’] situation, like probably James Trafford’s situation and some more players. I think when the club, the player, the manager, they all think in the same way that probably the best decision for some players is to go, you have to go.”
City in period of change, says Maresca
City are likely to be busy over the final weeks of the transfer window, especially if Rodri does depart.
They have lost some experienced players since the end of last season and Maresca is eager to add bodies to his squad.
“For sure with Bernardo [Silva], John [Stones], [Nathan] Ake, we’ll see what happens with some more, there is a change in this moment,” he said. “In the moment the transfer window closes, we need to be good enough to find as soon as possible solutions for the team. We are in a moment where players that were here many years have already left or probably can leave, and that means there is a change. We’re going to try to do our best.”
