Enzo Maresca walked into his first press conference as Manchester City manager this week, knowing that the man he replaced had won 20 trophies in a decade. The Italian’s task is not just to win matches — it’s to prove that a club can survive the departure of a legendary manager without falling apart. Manchester United have not come close to winning the Premier League or Champions League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and David Moyes was sacked within 10 months. Maresca insists City have the structure to avoid that fate, but he must immediately navigate the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is having back surgery, and integrate a club-record £116m signing, Elliot Anderson.
Rodri, the 30-year-old Spain captain who won the Golden Ball at the World Cup, will undergo back surgery on Monday, as confirmed by Maresca. The midfielder’s last two seasons at City were heavily disrupted: an anterior cruciate ligament injury sidelined him for most of 2024-25, and several setbacks last season meant he was often unavailable. The surgery comes after he returned to his best form at the World Cup, where he led Spain to glory. Maresca said Rodri needs “a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us,” but did not give a timeline for his return. Meanwhile, speculation linking Rodri with Real Madrid has been dismissed by Maresca as normal “around big players”.
“Explains the challenges facing new Man City boss Enzo Maresca after replacing Pep Guardiola, including Rodri's back surgery and record signing Elliot Anderson.”
City have also broken their transfer record to sign 23-year-old midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. Anderson was a key part of England’s World Cup squad, with former manager Thomas Tuchel calling him “the full package”. He began his career at Newcastle United but was sold to Forest for £35m in July 2024 because the club feared they would break profit and sustainability rules. Anderson had previously been called up by Scotland — he qualifies through a Scottish grandmother — but switched allegiance to England after an injury prevented him from playing. His former teacher at Valley Gardens Middle School recalled that teachers had discussed placing a bet on him playing for England, and he once captained his school to win the English leg of the Danone Nations Cup in 2014.
Maresca’s appointment follows Pep Guardiola’s departure after a decade at the Etihad. Guardiola won 20 trophies, including multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League. Maresca, who worked as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 Treble-winning season, acknowledged the “privilege” and “challenge” of succeeding him. He pointed to City’s stability — the club has had only three managers in 17 years — as a reason for confidence. “I think the organisation is the main thing,” he said. “This is not normal, it doesn’t happen often.”
For UK football fans, this story matters because it tests a recurring question in English football: can a club maintain dominance after a managerial titan leaves? United’s collapse after Ferguson is the cautionary tale. City have spent heavily — not just on Anderson, but on keeping players like Rodri — and have a deep squad. But injuries and the psychological weight of replacing a legend could derail the start of Maresca’s reign. The Community Shield against Premier League champions Arsenal on 16 August is an early test.
Q: When will Rodri return from back surgery? Maresca did not give a specific date, saying only that after Monday’s surgery, Rodri will need a holiday, rest and recovery before returning to the squad. His absence could last several months given previous injury setbacks.
Q: What is Manchester City’s record signing? Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for £116m in July 2026, is now City’s most expensive ever player. The 23-year-old England international is a central midfielder who was an integral part of England’s World Cup squad.
Q: How does Maresca plan to avoid Manchester United’s post-Ferguson decline? Maresca believes City’s organisational stability — only three managers in 17 years — will prevent a collapse. He also has the advantage of inheriting a squad that has won the Premier League and Champions League recently, unlike Moyes at United.
What happens next: Rodri’s surgery on Monday will determine his recovery timeline. Maresca expects other players to return three or four days before the Community Shield on 16 August. The transfer window remains open, and Anderson’s integration into the squad will be a focus. City’s season starts with high expectations, and the first few months will reveal whether Maresca can steady the ship without Guardiola.