Enzo Maresca Addresses Transfer Drama for Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Maresca has moved to cool talk of late drama in the transfer market, insisting Manchester City are unlikely to make a move on Friday despite the ticking clock on a deal for Enzo Fernandez.
City have been heavily linked with the Chelsea and Argentina midfielder, but the window for any formal approach is closing fast. Chelsea have set a firm 5pm BST deadline on Friday, August 14, for bids to land on their desk, alongside a £120million valuation that has so far kept suitors at arm’s length.
Speaking ahead of City’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal this weekend, Maresca was asked directly whether fans should brace for a reunion with Fernandez, whom he previously worked with at club level, or any other late arrival.
“Not today, to be honest. I don't think we're going to do something today,” he said in his Friday morning press conference, cutting through the speculation with a blunt assessment.
Pressed again on Fernandez, the Italian stuck rigidly to the managers’ code.
“In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one. It will always be the same. It's a player from another club, I don't think it's correct to talk about him.
“At the same time, I don't think it's correct for other clubs to speak about our players. That's why I'm not going to say anything about players that aren't with us.”
So while the clock keeps ticking on Chelsea’s 5pm cut-off and that £120m price tag, City’s manager is publicly steering clear of any suggestion of a late bid.
If Fernandez looks unlikely, one outgoing is much closer.
Maresca expects Tijjani Reijnders’ move to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah to be wrapped up shortly, after a £51.2m agreement was reached on Thursday. The deal is not yet over the line, but the direction of travel is clear.
“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” Maresca said. “I already spoke with him a few times in pre-season, then we will see if he is going to leave or if he is going to stay.
“In the way he was playing in the pre-season games, I was quite happy with his performance overall. I know Tij from Italy, from Milan when he was there so I know him quite well.
“I know there he was playing in a different position, he likes to play a little more deep rather than high up the pitch, but again in the pre-season he was good, then we'll see what happens and we'll decide.”
For now, City’s day looks set to be defined more by who departs than who arrives, with Maresca preparing for Arsenal while the Fernandez deadline passes in the background.
