Maresca: City players asked about Fernandez in final days

Enzo Maresca has explained why Enzo Fernandez attracted so much attention at Manchester City in the closing stages of the transfer window. The manager says several members of the squad asked in the last few days whether the Argentina midfielder would be joining, because they were keen to play alongside him. BBC Sport reports this.

Ready for Premier League debut

Maresca adds that Fernandez is ready to make his City debut this Saturday against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium, in his first Premier League appearance for the club. The timing comes right after his move to Manchester.

Maresca also puts the transfer into context: Fernandez arrived from Chelsea for £125m, described as a joint British-record fee, completed on deadline day. With that background, the City boss says he knows what the player brings—highlighting his winning mentality and experience of major trophies.

Squad welcome and leadership

The Italian’s message also reflects the dressing-room mood. After confirming Ruben Dias as City’s new captain, replacing Bernardo Silva (who left in the summer), and naming Erling Haaland, Marc Guéhi and Gianluigi Donnarumma among the leadership group, Maresca stressed that squads are always happy when another proven winner arrives. He even claimed that in the last four or five days “four or five” players asked whether Fernandez was coming, and that the club is “100%” happy that he is now there.

BBC Sport also links the story to Fernandez’s earlier stance: Fernandez had said he had “dreamed” of being at a club as big as City, a comment widely seen as a slight to Chelsea. Talks with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso this summer, as portrayed in the report, did not change the plan. Alonso said, “With Enzo we have had conversations… what he has done for the club has been great, but now it’s time to move forward.” The outlet adds that City spent a window-record £458m, including £327m on a revamped midfield.