{"id":1478485,"date":"2026-09-01T17:25:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T16:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1478485"},"modified":"2026-09-30T17:47:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:47:43","slug":"tactical-analysis-enzo-fernandez-rodri-manchester-city","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-enzo-fernandez-rodri-manchester-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Man City have swooped in for Enzo Fernandez at the last minute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/manchester-city\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manchester City<\/a> have been on a midfield rebuild this summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez have been left, while Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi have moved to the Etihad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anderson&#8217;s \u00a3116million signing was a club-record fee, but that is set be usurped by Enzo Fernandez&#8217;s arrival. According to reports, Man City gave agreed an initial \u00a3125m fee with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/chelsea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chelsea<\/a> for Fernandez &#8212; matching the British transfer record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move sees Fernandez reunite with former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, and it&#8217;s easy to see why he targeted his former player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-why-man-city-wanted-enzo-fernandez\" data-level=\"3\">Why Man City wanted Enzo Fernandez<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-change-in-midfield-approach\" data-level=\"3\">Change in midfield approach?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-can-fernandez-fill-rodri-void\" data-level=\"3\">Can Fernandez fill Rodri void?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-midfield-versatility-an-added-bonus\" data-level=\"3\">Midfield versatility an added bonus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-why-man-city-wanted-enzo-fernandez\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Man City wanted Enzo Fernandez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandez has long been linked with a switch to the Etihad. He&#8217;s a player Maresca knows well. He also wasn&#8217;t the only Chelsea man to crop up on Man City&#8217;s radar in recent months. But, he is the only man to make the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, he&#8217;s an important addition to the squad after Rodri&#8217;s departure. Replacing Rodri is nigh-on impossible. Bringing in a player who Maresca knows well would certainly help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reason for the interest in Fernandez extends beyond a reunion with Maresca. With Rodri gone, Maresca needs a midfield dictator at the base of his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandez, though, would offer a more progressive alternative in the midfield. The Argentine ranked seventh of central midfielders for forward passes (561) in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/premier-league\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Premier League<\/a> last season. New Man City teammate Anderson topped this metric on 810.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-change-in-midfield-approach\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change in midfield approach?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anderson should act as more of the tenacious ball-winner alongside Fernandez. The England star ranked top for ball recoveries (306) of outfield players in the 2025\/26 Premier League campaign. He won possession in the midfield third 154 times, more than any other player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This work-rate will compliment Fernandez, who ranked fourth for accurate through balls (11). A penetrative threat from deeper would certainly aid a Man City side expected to dictate the play once more this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1478538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1-59x74.jpg 59w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/08\/11123824\/player_-pitch-5-stats-no-rank-1-1.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary difference compared to Rodri is that Fernandez is more of the risk-taking midfielder. Rodri ranked top for passes per 90 minutes (96.1) in the Premier League last season. Fernandez&#8217;s return of 58.8 passes per 90 ranked 29th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possession retention largely remains Rodri\u2019s greatest strength. As we saw with Spain at the 2026 World Cup, and have witnessed with Man City in the past, Rodri is a master at suffocating play. Opponents will end up chasing shadows, which in turn tires teams out. That\u2019s when teams strike. Fernandez offers a more vertical range of passing, prioritising getting the ball upfield quickly, at least that\u2019s the case a club level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-can-fernandez-fill-rodri-void\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Fernandez fill Rodri void?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This doesn\u2019t necessarily suit Maresca\u2019s gameplan. The Italian has favoured a more patient approach in the past. It\u2019s why Maresca may hope to see more of the Argentina Fernandez rather than the Chelsea version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandez was instrumental in Argentina\u2019s progression to the 2026 World Cup final. Yes, the red card in the eventual 1-0 defeat to Spain was silly. But the 25-year-old played a central role in the Argentine midfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 93.5% pass success rate was among the best in North America. His 69.3 passes per 90 was also a solid haul. Yes, it wasn\u2019t quite Rodri levels. It was proof, though, that Fernandez is capable of operating as a tempo-setting midfielder. This contributed to Argentina\u2019s 89.3% pass accuracy, the fifth-best at the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third of Argentina&#8217;s attacks came through the middle of the pitch, the joint-most at the tournament. Granted, this was to help get Lionel Messi on the ball as much as possible in dangerous areas. Fernandez was instrumental in this coming to fruition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-midfield-versatility-an-added-bonus\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Midfield versatility an added bonus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandez&#8217;s arrival alognside Bouaddi and Anderson increases Maresca\u2019s midfield options. He\u2019s not just a midfielder who can exclusively operate in the double-pivot of Maresca\u2019s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup. Indeed, the former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/stats\/clubs\/benfica\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Benfica<\/a> man can play in the No.10 role should the Man City boss seek to bring in a more defensive-minded option. In this case, it would be Bouaddi alongside Anderson with Fernandez pushed forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s clear, though, is that there will be a change in midfield approach at the Etihad. Without Rodri, Maresca needs to find solutions in a key area. It\u2019s a real step into the unknown for the club following Pep Guardiola\u2019s 10-year dynasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Change can be good, however, and Man City need to embrace life under Maresca. Fernandez will certainly aid the transition.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester City have been on a midfield rebuild this summer. Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez have been left, while Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi have moved to the Etihad. Anderson&#8217;s \u00a3116million signing was a club-record fee, but that is set be usurped by Enzo Fernandez&#8217;s arrival. According to reports, Man City gave&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3564,"featured_media":1478487,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Enzo Fernandez","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Manchester City have reportedly agreed a \u00a3125m deal to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, to complete a midfield rebuild under Enzo Maresca.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27672,27670],"class_list":["post-1478485","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-player-analysis","squawka-category-premier-league"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Man City have swooped in for Enzo Fernandez at the last minute | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta 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