Enzo Maresca keen to add leadership to Manchester City squad

By Ian Parker, Press Association

Enzo Maresca has highlighted the need to add more leadership to his Manchester City squad in the final days of the transfer window.

City this week made Ayyoub Bouaddi the most expensive teenager in Premier League history as they spent £85.6million (€99.83 million) to sign the 18-year-old Morocco international from Lille, but Maresca is still seeking further reinforcements after a busy summer of departures.

The loss of players like Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones has cost City vital experience in the squad – including half of last season’s leadership group – and Maresca knows it is something that still needs to be addressed.

“We have experienced players for sure,” he said. “We have leaders. Now we need to wait four or five more days to see if we can add one or two more captains to Ruben (Dias) and Erling (Haaland) who are the captains. Again, it’s a young squad and we have some experienced players.”

City continued to be linked with Enzo Fernandez, the 25-year-old Argentina midfielder who was part of Maresca’s leadership team at Chelsea.

However, the City boss insisted the club were not close to making further signings at this stage.

“No, no, no,” he said. “The one that arrived is Ayyoub and then we will see in the next four or five days.”

City travel to Crystal Palace on Friday night, looking to build on Sunday’s win over Bournemouth, when late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win.

Maresca indicated that Bouaddi could be involved straight away at Selhurst Park.

“Yes, he is ready,” he said. “He was working with his former club so he’s fit. We’ll see how long he needs in terms of adaptation but for sure he’s ready to go.”

Despite his tender age, Bouaddi had established himself as a key part of Lille’s side last season before impressing at this summer’s World Cup.

“He’s quite calm,” Maresca said when asked about his key attributes. “He doesn’t look 18, he looks already mature and this is important.

“In this case we need to go slowly because he’s very young, he came from a different country and he needs adaptation.

“No rush for him. For sure he will help us now and in the future. But he is just 18. It is my job and it’s the club’s job to manage him in the best way, don’t put pressure on him, he is young and he needs time.”

Elliot Anderson is fully fit having seen his Premier League debut for the club cut short by cramp last weekend, but Matheus Nunes remains short of full fitness while Jeremy Doku is still sidelined.

Jack Grealish, who came off the bench last weekend, has again been linked with a move away from the club this week, but Maresca offered nothing definitive on his future.

“Jack is here and it’s my duty to try to help him to give us the best (options),” he said. “Then we will see in the next four or five days what is happening. I speak with Jack almost every day.”