Maresca Discusses Reijnders' Future at Manchester City

Enzo Maresca admits it is “difficult to convince” Tijani Reijnders to stay at Manchester City once a player’s mind is made up, as the midfielder edges towards the exit after just one season.

The City manager was asked whether Reijnders’ situation mirrors that of Omar Marmoush and James Trafford, whose limited roles last year have shaped their futures.

“Probably, yes,” Maresca said. “They all work every day, they do sessions every day and at the end of the week they all want to play a game. When they don't play, they struggle to understand or see the reason why.

“I can understand that after one season, some of them would like to play a little bit more. It's a normal situation.”

The tension sits in that word: normal. Players push, careers are short, and patience wears thin when minutes dry up.

Pressed on whether he has managed to persuade Reijnders to remain at the club, Maresca cut straight to the point.

“It's a bit difficult to convince players when they are already convinced, it's not always easy. It's Tijani's situation,” he admitted. “I think when the club, players, manager, they all think in the same way, that is probably the best decision for a player to go? They go.”

The message is clear: once alignment is reached on a departure, there is usually only one outcome.

Even so, Maresca did not hide his appreciation for Reijnders’ qualities and how he had hoped to use him this season.

“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” he said, underlining how close the decision now feels. “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, we try to...

“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.”

A coach who rates him, a player who wants more, and a club weighing up the future. The clock is ticking on which side wins that argument.