Keeping Rodri is Enzo Maresca's top priority at Manchester City

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New manager’s No 1 priority must be to persuade World Cup-winning captain to stay as Real Madrid circle

“Welcome home,” was Khaldoon al-Mubarak’s warm greeting to Enzo Maresca on his appointment last month as Manchester City manager. Now, after two previous spells at the club, the Italian’s task is to keep the chair content, and ensure a three-year contract does not end early. To achieve that, Maresca’s tenure must continue Pep Guardiola’s glittering legacy of 20 trophies across a decade of excellence.

The key to the 46-year-old, who was Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 treble season and City’s elite development squad leader two years before that, being successful can be summed up in two words: “Keep Rodri”. Yet with Real Madrid almost certain to launch a bid for the peerless No 6, and him seemingly wanting to play for the Spanish giants, a move away from City may become inevitable.

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