How do Manchester City manage the Rodri dilemma?

What the report says

BBC Sport’s tactical analysis says Manchester City face a major midfield decision as Rodri prepares for back surgery on Monday with one year remaining on his contract. The report frames the issue against a wider summer of change: Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola after a decade in charge, several players from the 2022-23 Treble side have departed, and City have added £116m midfielder Elliot Anderson and 17-year-old Jeremy Monga.

According to the BBC, Rodri’s future is uncertain amid reports linking him with Real Madrid, although Maresca used his first news conference to make clear he wants the Spain captain to remain at City. Rodri recently captained Spain to a World Cup final win over Argentina and was named the tournament’s best player, but the length of his recovery from surgery is not yet clear.

The article focuses on how Maresca could build a midfield around Rodri, Anderson and possible future targets such as Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi. BBC Sport describes Maresca as a positional-play coach whose teams often attack in a 3-2-2-3 structure, requiring players who can rotate between defence, holding midfield and more advanced roles. Rodri’s value in that system is presented as his ability to shift positions while managing space and risk.

If Rodri stays, City would retain an elite organiser while Anderson develops in a flexible role. If he leaves, the BBC suggests Maresca may need to rely on his record of repositioning players and on a deeper, more versatile squad to find a new midfield formula.