Man City plot midfield blueprint as Maresca era begins amid Rodri uncertainty

Manchester City are entering one of the most delicate periods of their modern history as the decade-long reign of Pep Guardiola ends and Enzo Maresca takes charge of a squad facing both a rebuild and growing doubt over the future of Rodri.

The former Premier League champions, who only recently completed a historic treble, are preparing for a summer in which several key figures from that success could depart. At the heart of their planning is a strategic decision over Rodri – widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world – whose contract is edging towards its final stretch and whose fitness has been hit by injury.

With Real Madrid monitoring his situation, City must decide whether to push hard to retain the Spain international or cash in while his market value remains high. Either route would significantly shape Maresca’s project for years to come, forcing a rethink of how the midfield will function in the new era.

Rodri dilemma looms over Maresca’s plans

Rodri’s status as the fulcrum of City’s midfield has made his situation particularly sensitive. His injury problems, coupled with the approaching end of his current deal, have created a complex equation for the club’s hierarchy.

On one side is the argument for keeping a player who has been central to City’s dominance at home and in Europe, organising play from deep, offering defensive protection, and dictating the rhythm of matches. In this scenario, City would seek to manage his minutes more carefully under Maresca, building a structure that allows Rodri to remain influential without being overburdened.

On the other side is the possibility of a major transfer, with Real Madrid’s interest potentially giving City a rare chance to bank a substantial fee for a midfielder who is no longer at the very beginning of his career. Such a move would free up both funds and tactical flexibility but would also leave a sizeable void in a position that has been settled for several seasons.

Rebuilding after the treble core begins to thin

Complicating matters further is the gradual dismantling of the side that delivered the treble. Several of the standout players from that campaign have already left or are expected to move on, forcing City to reshape what was once a settled, title-winning core.

Maresca, returning to the club as head coach after previously working on Guardiola’s staff, must therefore navigate a transition on two fronts: stylistically, as he stamps his own ideas on the team, and structurally, as personnel changes reshape the dressing room dynamic.

The Italian coach’s vision for the midfield will be a central part of that. Whether Rodri stays or goes, City are expected to adjust their balance in the middle of the pitch. If Rodri remains, Maresca may look to pair him with more mobile or creative partners to refresh the team’s patterns without abandoning the control that has defined City’s recent success.

If Rodri departs, Maresca and the recruitment department will need to identify either a like-for-like replacement or a different type of midfielder, accepting that the system itself may have to evolve in order to compensate for losing such a specialist anchor.

Preparing for every scenario

Internally, City recognise that this summer could set the course of the club’s medium-term future. The decision over Rodri is not just about one player but about what the new Manchester City will look like under Maresca – in terms of style, squad profile and financial planning.

The club are therefore preparing for multiple eventualities: a future in which Rodri signs a new deal and continues as the centrepiece of the midfield; a future in which he stays to see out his contract while City begin phasing in successors around him; and a future in which he is sold, forcing an accelerated rebuild and a new tactical framework.

Whichever path is chosen, the way Manchester City handle Rodri’s situation – and how they reconfigure their midfield around that decision – is likely to define the early years of Maresca’s tenure and the next chapter after Guardiola’s transformative decade at the Etihad Stadium.