Enzo Maresca breaks long-held silence on Rodri’s Man City future and Real Madrid talks | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has moved to downplay speculation surrounding Rodri’s future at Manchester City, confirming the Spain international’s surgery went well while insisting no focused contract conversations have yet taken place.

The 30-year-old Ballon d’Or holder has been the subject of significant transfer interest throughout the summer, with Real Madrid conveying their desire to sign the midfielder and reports from France suggesting PSG have also made contact with the club to understand the conditions around a potential move.

Maresca addressed Rodri’s situation in a press conference ahead of Manchester City’s pre-season opener against Inter Milan in Hong Kong, striking a deliberately calm and grounded tone – framing the absence of any specific contract discussions as entirely logical given the circumstances of the player’s summer.

It’s just speculation at the moment, says Maresca on Rodri to Real Madrid transfer talk

Speaking in the days leading to a narrow penalty shootout defeat to Inter in his first game as Manchester City manager, Maresca was quizzed on Rodri’s future amid interest from Real Madrid.

“It’s just about speculation at the moment,” said Maresca. “Rodri had the surgery last Monday; everything was fine. Now, some days off and he’ll be back with us when he finishes his holiday.”

On the subject of any contract conversations held with director of football Hugo Viana over Rodri’s future, Maresca added: “As I said, the main focus for him when the season finished was the FIFA World Cup. Now, he is enjoying some rest after that and we didn’t have any conversations just focused on Rodri.”

Maresca was then asked how important it is for him to retain a player of Rodri’s calibre into hs debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium. The Italian said: “It’s very important. I said in the first press conference that any manager in the world wants Rodri because he’s a top player.

“It’s important for me, the club and for everyone. But now, he needs his holiday – that’s very important when we start to play every three days.”

What does Maresca’s verdict tell us about Rodri’s Man City future?

Manchester City and Maresca want to keep hold of Rodri, who is under contract at the club till next summer. However, Rodri is understood to be keen on a new challenge.

City paused contract renewal talks with the recently-crowned FIFA World Cup champion earlier in the summer, with Viana and Maresca expected to make a strong case to the Spain international when he reports back in Manchester from holiday.

Real Madrid are yet to make a formal offer for Rodri and Maresca is well within his right to be planning for the new season with the understanding, at present, that the midfielder is going nowhere anytime soon.