MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥� Manchester City midfielder Rodri will undergo back surgery next week, coach confirmed Friday.
Rodri, who sustained an ACL damage in 2024 endured an injury disrupted campaign last season before .
Maresca did not say how long it would take for him to recover from his latest setback, but confirmed he wanted the former Ballon d’Or winner to stay at the club amid speculation about his future.
鈥淎round a big player, there are always speculation so I鈥檓 not worried about that. I think it鈥檚 normal also because they won the World Cup. He was one of the best players and I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he鈥檚 a top player,鈥� Maresca said. 鈥淏ut now (he has) surgery on, I think Monday, and he needs holiday. He needs to rest, he needs to recover and then he will be back here with us.鈥�
Maresca was speaking at his unveiling as City coach after iconic former manager at the end of last season.
The Italian, who has previously part of Guardiola’s coaching staff, said he felt like he was back home after spells at Leicester and Chelsea and embraced the challenge of following in the steps of one of the greatest managers of all time.
In an unprecedented period of success Guardiola won 17 major trophies at City, including six Premier League titles and a first Champions League crown in 2023.
He has won 35 major titles across his coaching career including at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
鈥淔irst of all I want to say that it鈥檚 a privilege because the reason why the club decided to go for me, that means that for me it鈥檚 a privilege,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 said many times that I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20-25 years, but again, it鈥檚 a challenge. It鈥檚 nice. It鈥檚 a privilege.鈥�
The 46-year-old Maresca is in his third stint at City, where he was academy coach in the 2020-21 season and then Guardiola鈥檚 assistant in 2022-23 鈥� the year the team won the Premier League-Champions League-FA Cup treble.
鈥淧robably the reason why the club decide for me is because they can see some similar concept with the previous manager and we always try to be aggressive on the ball, control the game, try to be the ones that impose our idea,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd try to do the most important thing in football, that is to win games at the end.鈥�
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