Man City Boss Maresca Targets Next Rodri after Midfielder's Exit

16 August 2026, United Kingdom, Cardiff: Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca reacts on the touchline during the FA Community Shield soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City, at Principality Stadium. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa

Asharq Al Awsat

07:01-23 August 2026 AD ـ 10 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

07:01-23 August 2026 AD ـ 10 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Man City Boss Maresca Targets Next Rodri after Midfielder's Exit

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said the club would look to find the next Rodri following the midfielder's departure to Barcelona, insisting City had repeatedly shown an ability to replace key players.

Rodri, 30, ended a seven-year spell at City on Tuesday, bringing to a close a trophy-laden stay that included four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA Cups.

"I'll try to find a new Rodri - it is what it is," Maresca told reporters on Saturday, a day ahead of City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth.

"Rodri, before he arrived here, he didn't win the Ballon d'Or, he didn't win the ⁠Champions League, he ⁠didn't win the Club World Cup. Then he joined the club and then he achieved many important things.

"Now the target for us is to try to find the new Rodri,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Maresca acknowledged the Spain international would be difficult to replace but said City's recruitment history gave him confidence that a successor could emerge.

"When David ⁠Silva was here, everyone was worried – Kevin (De Bruyne) arrived. When Sergio Aguero was here, everyone was worried – Erling (Haaland) arrived. When Fernandinho left, Rodri arrived. It's just about this," he said.

"When they leave, you need to be good and recruit the next one."

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and a member of Spain's European Championship-winning team, further enhanced his reputation by captaining his country to World Cup glory last month and being named player of the tournament.

His departure is among several notable changes during the close ⁠season as ⁠City continue to reshape their squad.

Maresca said he expected further transfer activity before the window closes but remained relaxed despite reports linking Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez with moves away.

"We need to adapt and we don't want to keep players here that don't want to stay. The normal thing in transfer windows is that you have to wait because all the clubs try to keep players until the last week and then sell for more money," he said.

"It's normal. I'm not worried about that. When the transfer window closes and we have all the squad there, for sure it will be different."

Carrick Unsure Over Man Utd Future After Bournemouth Loss

25 October 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick waves after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford. (dpa)

17:56-25 October 2026 AD ـ 14 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Carrick Unsure Over Man Utd Future After Bournemouth Loss

Michael Carrick said he will do what is best for Manchester United after a 3-0 demolition by Bournemouth plunged his future as manager into doubt on Sunday.

Winless in eight games in all competitions, the 20-time English champions slipped to within one point of the relegation zone after a damaging defeat at Old Trafford.

"It's a tough situation," Carrick told Sky Sports. "What is next? I don't know.

"I'll always do what's best for this football club. I've said it all along, I don't change that now. I love what I do. I love the responsibility, but we'll have to wait and see."

Asked in a post-match press conference if he expects to be sacked in the coming days, Carrick replied: "I totally understand the situation. I'm not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I'm carrying on as normal. I love this place."

Despite a dismal run of results, the United fans largely supported the former midfielder as he made his way off the field at full-time before they turned on the club's players.

"I have mixed emotions to have that connection with the supporters in the moment we're in. I need time to digest that," added Carrick.

"I appreciate their support, but the situation is where it's at. We haven't been good enough."

Carrick's decision to drop captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench and not even introduce the Portuguese international as a substitute backfired.

Fernandes, last season's Premier League player of the year, had criticized Carrick's tactics after a 4-1 thrashing by Como on Wednesday.

Carrick said before the game that call was a "pure football" decision, but it was hard to believe Fernandes was not being punished as he was left on the bench for the entire match.

"There's always times in games when you are trying to change the course of the game and to make a difference," said Carrick as he swerved questions on Fernandes's absence. "Those were the decisions we made today."

Carrick was only appointed on a two-year deal in May after a successful caretaker spell in charge led United to third place in the Premier League last season.

However, he has been unable to arrest the club's steep decline since his former boss Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013.

United were outspent by many of their rivals in the transfer market as they added just three midfielders -- Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.

But Carrick said a lack of investment did not justify such a decline in results.

"Last season to finish third was a really good achievement in the circumstances," added Carrick.

"We understood where that left us, what was next, what needed to be done and how we needed to improve, and where we were at as a team and as a group at that stage.

"I definitely knew that we hadn't cracked it and there was a lot of work to be done, but that doesn't mean to say that it should have gone this way."

Sports

Real Madrid Goalkeeper Courtois to Miss Clasico Due to Illness

UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

11:02-25 October 2026 AD ـ 14 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Real Madrid Goalkeeper Courtois to Miss Clasico Due to Illness

UEFA Champions League - Real Madrid v RB Leipzig - Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - October 21, 2026 Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

Real ‌Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss his side's LaLiga fixture at Barcelona on Sunday due to the flu, the club said in a statement.

Courtois' absence ‌leaves manager ‌Jose ⁠Mourinho without a ⁠key player for a vital clash with their league-leading rivals.

The 34-year-old Belgian will ⁠miss his first ‌game ‌this season.

Andriy Lunin ‌is in line ‌to replace Courtois in goal at Camp Nou.

Lunin's last appearance ‌for Real Madrid came on May 3, ⁠in ⁠a 2-0 win over Espanyol.

Illia Voloshyn has been called up to the senior squad, with Sergio Mestre the other goalkeeper in the matchday squad.

Sports

Naomi Osaka Could Quit Tennis if Daughter Asks Her To

Naomi Osaka is playing at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP

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09:11-25 October 2026 AD ـ 14 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

09:11-25 October 2026 AD ـ 14 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Naomi Osaka Could Quit Tennis if Daughter Asks Her To

Naomi Osaka is playing at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP

Former world number one Naomi Osaka cast doubt on her future Sunday saying she would consider quitting tennis if her three-year-old daughter asked her to.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan took 15 months away from the sport after the birth of her daughter Shai, before returning in 2023, AFP said.

She is in Tokyo to play at the Pan Pacific Open this week and said becoming a mother had reshaped her priorities.

"I wouldn't say I'm part-timing it but my entire day doesn't consist of that," said the 29-year-old, now ranked 19 in the world.

"It's tough, sometimes I look towards my future and I often wonder how long I'm going to play.

"Because if my daughter did say she didn't want me to travel as much, I'm not the type of person to ignore that."

Osaka also stepped away from tennis in 2021 to prioritize her mental health.

She said her "mindset is changing a lot" with age.

"My daughter is my biggest priority," she said.

"I try my best to put as much energy as I can into tennis.

"If I think about it in certain ways, I'm really proud of where I am now because it's not like I can dedicate my entire time to the sport."

- Online abuse -

Osaka said juggling her duties as a player and a mother was something she was "figuring out little by little".

She also offered support to the American Coco Gauff, who said she had received an "insane" amount of racist abuse on the internet at this month's China Open.

World number five Gauff, who is Black, said the experience had been "kind of draining".

Osaka, whose mother is Japanese and father from Haiti, said "nobody should have to go through that".

"It's sad but I'm used to it on my end," she said.

"I feel like for me, I've dealt with that my entire career through decisions that I make that seem to make some people upset. It's tough."

Osaka said efforts made by women's tennis governing body the WTA to combat social media abuse did not "ever seem to fully work all the way".

"I know that some people are like, OK, if it bothers you that much, stay off social media," said Osaka.

"But sometimes that's the best way to connect with your fans.

"From my end, what I do about it is I don't really go on social media at all."

Osaka is seeded seven in Tokyo and plays Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the first round.

World number one Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala are also competing.

Osaka said she was "not far off" refinding her best form and was "optimistic for next year".

Man City Boss Maresca Targets Next Rodri after Midfielder's Exit

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Carrick Unsure Over Man Utd Future After Bournemouth Loss

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