Man City tight-lipped on Rodri transfer amid Barcelona and Real Madrid link

What the report says

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has declined to give a clear answer on Rodri’s future as transfer speculation swirls around the Spain midfielder. In comments reported by Al Jazeera on Friday, Maresca said the club is still in the transfer window and that “anything can happen,” while also noting he had just seen Rodri at the training facility and that the player looked fit. The report says Rodri is returning to training after back surgery at the end of July.

The uncertainty comes amid online chatter after an apparent photo of Rodri on a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Liverpool spread on social media. Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, also reported that Real Madrid’s interest has cooled because of the cost of a possible deal, while Barcelona remains part of the wider speculation. No transfer has been confirmed.

Maresca tried to shift attention to City’s next match, the Community Shield against Arsenal on Sunday in Cardiff. He said City will not make new signings on Friday, but suggested changes could still happen before the window closes, depending on possible departures. He also said the team views the Community Shield as a real trophy, not a friendly, as he seeks his first silverware as City manager following Pep Guardiola’s departure.