Manchester City have identified Enzo Fernández as Enzo Maresca’s preferred replacement for Rodri if the Spanish midfielder leaves the Etihad.
Manchester City Identify Enzo Fernández as Dream Rodri Replacement
Manchester City are beginning to prepare for the possibility of life without Rodri, with Enzo Fernández emerging as the preferred option of new manager Enzo Maresca if the Spanish midfielder leaves the Etihad Stadium. Rodri’s future has become increasingly uncertain amid interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the Catalan club reportedly moving ahead of José Mourinho’s side in the race for his signature. Losing the 30-year-old would represent a major change for City, particularly after a season in which Rodri further strengthened his reputation by helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup and being named the best player of the tournament. City are therefore reluctant to be caught unprepared and have started evaluating potential successors capable of assuming one of the most demanding roles in the team.
According to transfer specialist Gianluca Di Marzio, Maresca’s ideal candidate is Enzo Fernández, a player he already knows extremely well from their time together at Chelsea. The Argentine midfielder was an important figure under Maresca and possesses several of the characteristics City would look for in a replacement for Rodri, including composure in possession, passing range, tactical intelligence and the ability to dictate the rhythm of matches from deeper areas. Although Fernández is not an identical player to Rodri, City are not necessarily expected to search for a direct copy of the Spaniard. The priority would instead be to find a midfielder capable of becoming the reference point of the team’s build-up play while maintaining the technical standards required in a side that regularly dominates possession.
Maresca Knows Exactly What Enzo Fernández Can Offer
Maresca’s previous relationship with Fernández could prove particularly important if Manchester City decide to make a serious move. The Italian coach already understands the midfielder’s strengths, preferred positioning and personality, removing much of the uncertainty that normally accompanies such an expensive transfer. During their time together at Chelsea, Maresca had the opportunity to work with Fernández on a daily basis and assess how he responded to tactical instructions, pressure and different midfield structures. That familiarity appears to be one of the main reasons why the Argentine has emerged so quickly as the manager’s preferred option rather than simply being one name on a long recruitment list.
Fernández is capable of receiving the ball under pressure, progressing possession through midfield and playing passes between the opposition lines, qualities that would be essential in Manchester City’s system. His experience operating in different midfield roles could also give Maresca greater flexibility. He can play as the deepest midfielder when required, but is equally comfortable moving higher up the pitch and contributing closer to the attacking third. That versatility could allow City to adjust their midfield structure depending on the opponent instead of relying on one fixed interpretation of Rodri’s role. At 25, Fernández is also entering an important stage of his career, combining considerable experience at club and international level with the possibility of continuing to develop over several seasons.
Replacing Rodri Would Be One of City’s Biggest Challenges
The difficulty for Manchester City is that replacing Rodri would involve far more than simply signing another high-profile midfielder. The Spanish international has become central to the way the team controls matches, offering security in possession while also protecting the defence whenever City lose the ball. His ability to choose the correct tempo, position himself between opposition lines and recover possession before counter-attacks develop has made him one of the most influential players in the squad. Those qualities were again evident at the 2026 World Cup, where his performances helped Spain lift the trophy and earned him the award for the tournament’s best player.
A departure to Barcelona or Real Madrid would therefore force Maresca to reconsider important aspects of City’s midfield. Even if Fernández were signed, he would not be expected to reproduce every element of Rodri’s game immediately. The Argentine offers a different profile, with greater natural tendency to advance possession through passing and become involved in creative phases, while Rodri’s positional discipline and defensive presence have traditionally provided the platform around which City’s other midfielders operate. Maresca would potentially need to redistribute responsibilities across the team, asking other players to contribute more defensively while allowing Fernández greater freedom to influence possession.
Chelsea Hold a Strong Position Over Any Negotiations
The biggest obstacle to the deal is likely to be Chelsea rather than Fernández himself. The London club invested a record €121 million to sign the midfielder from Benfica in January 2023 and tied him to an exceptionally long contract running until 2032. That agreement leaves Chelsea under very little pressure to negotiate, particularly with a direct Premier League rival. Manchester City would therefore need to present an offer substantial enough to make the transfer attractive from both a sporting and financial perspective, and there is currently no indication that Chelsea are actively looking to sell one of their most important midfielders.
Fernández’s contract situation also means that Chelsea can dictate the terms of any discussion. There is no imminent contractual deadline and no obvious reason for the club to accept a reduced fee, especially considering the amount originally paid to Benfica. A move between two major Premier League clubs would almost certainly require a significant financial package, and Chelsea would have to consider the consequences of strengthening a domestic rival. Even if City regard Fernández as the ideal replacement for Rodri, admiration from Maresca alone will not be enough to complete one of the most complicated transfers of the summer.
Rodri’s Future Could Determine City’s Entire Midfield Strategy
Much will depend on what happens with Rodri over the coming weeks. Barcelona are reportedly now in a strong position in the race for the midfielder, while Real Madrid remain interested under José Mourinho. If Rodri ultimately decides to stay at Manchester City, the urgency surrounding a move for Fernández would immediately decrease. City could still consider strengthening their midfield, but spending the enormous amount likely to be required for the Argentine would become considerably harder to justify while Rodri remains the established figure in that position.
If the Spaniard leaves, however, the situation changes completely. Manchester City would receive a significant transfer fee but would also lose the player around whom much of their midfield structure has been built. In that scenario, Maresca would almost certainly demand a high-level replacement rather than relying exclusively on the existing squad. Fernández’s Premier League experience, international pedigree and previous relationship with the coach would make him an obvious candidate, even if negotiations with Chelsea proved difficult. City would also know that replacing Rodri with a younger midfielder already accustomed to English football could reduce the adaptation period compared with signing someone arriving from another league.
For Fernández, a potential move would present a very different career decision. He remains under a long-term contract with Chelsea and has already established himself as a major figure at the club, but the opportunity to reunite with Maresca and assume a central role at Manchester City could be attractive. Much would depend on the sporting project presented to him and whether Chelsea were willing to open negotiations in the first place. At this stage, the Argentine appears to be a preferred target rather than the subject of an advanced deal, but the situation could develop quickly if Rodri’s departure becomes more concrete.
Enzo Fernández Emerges as the Key Name in City’s Contingency Plan
Manchester City’s interest in Fernández illustrates how seriously the club are treating the possibility of losing Rodri. Rather than waiting for the Spaniard’s future to be resolved before identifying alternatives, City appear to be preparing several steps in advance, with Maresca already indicating which player he would most like to build around if a replacement becomes necessary. His familiarity with Fernández gives the Argentine an obvious advantage over other candidates, while his age and experience suggest he could become a long-term solution rather than a short-term response to Rodri’s departure.
For now, there are several major pieces still to fall into place. Rodri has not yet left Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid are still competing for his signature, and Chelsea have given no indication that Fernández is available. What appears increasingly clear, however, is that City have already identified the player they would like to pursue if their midfield leader moves on. Should Rodri leave the Etihad after his remarkable 2026 World Cup campaign, Enzo Fernández could quickly become one of the most important names in the transfer market and the centre of a potentially enormous Premier League negotiation.
