Manchester City Faces Chelsea’s Deadline for Enzo Fernández
Manchester City is unlikely to meet Chelsea’s 5 p.m. UK deadline on Friday to finalize a deal for Enzo Fernández, as stated by City manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea has set a £120 million ($161.8 million) valuation for the Argentine international, and the club will not entertain any offers after the deadline, according to sources.
At a press conference on Friday, Maresca declined to comment directly on Fernández, saying, “I don’t think it’s correct to speak about players from another club. 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 do it.” He added that he doesn’t anticipate any transfer activity on the day, stating, “Not today, to be honest. I don’t think we are going to do something today.”
Maresca also welcomed back Spanish midfielder Rodri, giving him a “big hug” upon his return to training. However, he did not provide assurances that Rodri would remain with the team, mentioning the open transfer window and potential movements, stating, “We can buy players, we can sell players, anything can happen.” Rodri was the last City player to report for preseason training after recovering from back surgery and contributing to Spain’s World Cup victory.
City recently spent £116 million to acquire Elliot Anderson from England, following Bernardo Silva’s departure. Meanwhile, Tijjani Reijnders is nearing a £51 million transfer to Al Qadsiah. Reijnders, who joined City from AC Milan last summer for £46.5 million, struggled for playing time and started only half of City’s Premier League matches during the past season.
Maresca commented on the challenges of retaining players who seek more playing time, saying it is “normal” for them to desire an increased role. “It’s a bit difficult to convince players when they are already convinced,” he remarked. “You need to change their thoughts, that is not always easy.”
Manchester City is set to face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, with Erling Haaland having sat out part of an open training session on Thursday due to minor concerns. Maresca reassured that the star striker is well, stating, “He had just a small thing behind the heels but he was okay.”
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
