Maresca delighted with Samba debut

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Manchester City F.C.

·17 September 2026

Maresca delighted with Samba debut

Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on Floyd Samba’s impressive senior debut.

The 17-year-old scored a goal in each half as City beat Norwich 5-0 to progress to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

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And the boss revealed it was an almost completely new role for the youngster.

“I’m satisfied not just for the two goals, but for the entire performance - he was good,” said Maresca.

“He didn’t play many games as a No.9, but we tried him there in the last few days.

“I asked him in the last three or four days when I decided to play him as a nine - I asked him if he had played [that role] and he said he had never played there before!

“He’s very good at finishing so I think it was a good game for him.

“He is a not a 9 for sure but he was good, he is young full of energy, he is strong, he can finish and he made some good decisions, some passes to team mates.

“So I am happy, but again, they are young and we need to go slowly with them.

“We have different competitions. We have many games. We are just at the beginning of the season for sure the ones that played tonight during the season will play Premier League games and Champions League games as the season is so long.

“I said we had Antoine there, depends a little but the game plan we can use Phil and Rayan as a false nine, but for sure he played tonight, he was good and hopefully we can give him more chances.”

And on Brazilian winger Allan’s debut, which saw him claim and assist and a fine goal, Maresca added: “I think it was a good performance. It was not easy - the first minutes here at home is always complicated.

“I think it was important for him to play to see a little bit of the English competition is a bit different to South America, so overall, it was good, he scored a goal and an assist - I think he is happy!”