Joe Cole Backs Enzo Fernandez to Replace Rodri at Manchester City
Joe Cole has thrown his weight behind Enzo Fernandez as the man to step into Rodri’s shoes at Manchester City – and he’s adamant the Premier League champions will find a way to get it done.
The former Chelsea and England winger believes the Argentina international is the standout option on the market as City scour Europe for midfield reinforcements following Rodri’s move to Barcelona. For Cole, Fernandez has the right mix of technique, temperament and ambition to handle the glare and the grind at Etihad Stadium.
Replacing Rodri, though, is something else entirely.
The Spaniard didn’t just anchor City’s midfield; he dictated the rhythm of their era. He became the tactical heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s side, a dominant presence who controlled games almost on his own. Losing that kind of influence has left a gaping hole at the base of City’s midfield and a huge question hanging over their recruitment team.
Cole recognises the scale of that problem. Speaking to Paddy Power, he underlined just how big a job City face.
“What a man to try and replace,” he said. “Rodri is one of the all-time Premier League greats. Such a unique footballer. This Enzo saga will definitely drag on, because what you’ve got is a player who wants to move on and is wanted by multiple clubs. Both parties have put a marker down, so it seems to me it’s just about money now.
“Manchester City tend to find money from somewhere, don’t they? Wherever they find it from, that’s down to the FA and everyone else to figure out!”
The pressure finally lands on the deal-makers. Fernandez has been heavily linked with a switch to City, and Cole is openly enthusiastic about the prospect. In his eyes, the 23-year-old fits the profile of a Guardiola midfielder: comfortable under pressure, progressive on the ball, and brave enough to take responsibility in tight spaces.
But Cole doesn’t pretend one signing alone can recreate what Rodri gave City.
He stressed that the Spaniard’s mix of tactical intelligence, positional discipline and physical dominance often allowed him to control matches almost single-handedly. Strip that out of the side, and you’re not just missing a player – you’re missing a system.
That’s why Cole believes City may need a blend of talents to restore the same balance.
“But they tend to get their man, and he’s a great player,” he said of Fernandez. “I think he’s perfect for the job. Replacing Rodri, you need two players to do that, even two top quality players like [Elliot] Anderson and Fernandez. I personally believe that deal will get done.”
The message is clear: City can’t clone Rodri, but they can build a new midfield around a different kind of fulcrum. And in Cole’s view, Enzo Fernandez is the one they have to land if they want that rebuild to start at the very top of the market.
