Sports17 August, 20262 min read
Enzo Maresca Confirms Manchester City Transfer Plan After 3-0 Arsenal Loss at Principality Stadium
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Manchester City in advanced talks to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, ~€100m. Rodri sale to Barcelona paves Bouaddi move; transfer talks accelerate.
6 outlets told this the same way.
City plan after Community Shield
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the club’s transfer plan after City lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday.
Maresca said City will be “busy” in the window before it closes on August 31, adding: “We are quite clear. For sure, we are going to do something before the transfer window closes.”
The Italian also addressed Rodri’s absence from the travelling party, saying: “Rodri is a player that just won the World Cup, the Ballon d’Or — a top player that all teams need a player like.”
City are preparing for squad changes as Rodri is linked with a move to Barcelona, while Tijjani Reijnders is expected to join Saudi side Al Qadsiah.
In the same post-match comments, Maresca said of Ayyoub Bouaddi: “He is still a Lille player.”
Bouaddi talks, Rodri exit
Manchester City have accelerated talks for a Rodri successor as they agreed to sell Rodri to Barcelona for around £65million, with Maresca keen on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Mirror said Bouaddi is valued at £85m by Lille and that City have reached advanced talks with the French side for the 18-year-old, while also not ruling out moving for Enzo Fernandez. BBC Sport reported Lille value Bouaddi at 100 million euros (£85.6m) and said City want to conclude the transfer this week after agreeing to sell Rodri to Barcelona.
BBC Sport also stated Rodri is set to complete a £65m move to Barcelona on a four-year contract, while noting Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six matches at this summer’s World Cup. The Mirror added that City have already rejected multiple bids for Rodri, who has one year left on his contract, and that the transfer window remains open until September 1.
Departures and what’s at risk
As City push to strengthen their midfield, they are also bracing for departures, with Rodri omitted from the travelling party for the Community Shield and Tijjani Reijnders expected to depart for Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah. Goal reported Maresca confirmed City will remain active in the transfer market before the window closes on August 31, and reiterated that he expects to “do something before the transfer window closes.” Goal also said Bouaddi has already agreed personal terms with Manchester City and that the club are preparing for significant squad changes before the Premier League campaign kicks off.
BBC Sport described Bouaddi as having played 88 times for Lille since making his debut in October 2023, three days after his 16th birthday, and said he helped Lille finish third in Ligue 1 last season. With Rodri’s move to Barcelona and Reijnders’ expected exit, City’s immediate priority is to finalise the Bouaddi deal in time for Maresca’s midfield reinforcements, while the window stays open until September 1.