Maresca admits 'anything can happen' with Rodri's Man City future

Enzo Maresca admitted "anything can happen" when asked about Rodri's future at Manchester City.

The City midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks, which followed rumours of a potential transfer to Real Madrid.

The Premier League club have reiterated their desire to keep Rodri, who underwent back surgery after captaining Spain to World Cup glory this summer.

Rodri has made 298 appearances since joining City ahead of the 2019-20 season, helping them win four consecutive league titles and their first-ever Champions League among 13 major trophies.

Since Rodri's debut, City have won 71.5% of the matches where the 30-year-old has featured and just 62.8% of games without him.

Rodri has struggled with injuries over the last two campaigns, but looked back to his best with Spain at the World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball.

Barcelona have reportedly seen two bids already rejected by City, but Maresca does not know where Rodri's future lies.

"First of all, we already said the window transfer is open, we can buy and sell players, anything can happen," said Maresca ahead of this Sunday's Community Shield.

"I've just seen Rodri now in the building, I gave him a big hug, he looks good, so we'll see what happens.

"As I've said, I've given him a big hug, and now we have time to see each other a bit more when I am in the building."

While City have strengthened their midfield with the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, they also lost a key player in Bernardo Silva this summer.

And with the uncertainty around Rodri's future at Etihad Stadium, Maresca conceded he has a tough task ahead in constructing a new midfield.

"It's a big challenge," added Maresca.

"First of all because Bernardo [Silva] showed how good he is on the ball, off the ball, in these years but again Elliot [Anderson], we are completely sure that he's going to do a great job for this club in the next few years. No doubt about that.

"They are different players, but we are going to try to use Elliot in the best way for him and for the team."