Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has responded to a question about the best position for new signing Enzo Fernandez, after the Argentine midfielder joined the club from Chelsea in a €145m transfer.
The move was completed shortly before the summer transfer window closed, making Fernandez one of the latest additions to the Manchester City squad. His arrival has immediately prompted discussion about how he will be used and where Maresca believes he can have the greatest influence on the team.
Fernandez, an Argentina international, was signed from Chelsea for a fee of €145m. The transfer was finalised just before the deadline, meaning the midfielder moved to Manchester City at the very end of the summer market.
Maresca was asked to assess Fernandez’s optimal position following the move. The Manchester City manager addressed the question as attention turned to the player’s role at his new club.
The transfer has added significance because Fernandez arrives with expectations attached to a substantial fee. Manchester City paid €145m to secure his services, while the timing of the deal means the club’s plans for incorporating him into the team have been formed quickly.
There is little time for Manchester City to wait before Fernandez’s new surroundings become the focus of attention on the pitch. The club will host Coventry later today in the third round of the Premier League.
The match will be played at Manchester City’s home ground, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 Moscow time. It will provide the immediate backdrop to discussion about Fernandez’s position, although the central issue raised with Maresca was his view of the midfielder’s most suitable role.
Fernandez’s transfer from Chelsea to Manchester City was completed as the summer window was closing. That late timing leaves the question of his position as one of the first issues surrounding his arrival, with Maresca now having been asked to explain how the new signing should be deployed.
For Manchester City, the move represents a major investment in an Argentine midfielder acquired from a Premier League rival. For Fernandez, it marks the start of a new stage after leaving Chelsea.
The manager’s comments come on the day Manchester City prepare to face Coventry in the third round of the Premier League. With the match taking place at home, attention will be focused on the club’s latest signing and on the position Maresca considers most appropriate for him.
The reported fee, the late completion of the transfer and the immediate arrival of a Premier League fixture have all placed Fernandez’s role at the centre of early discussion about his Manchester City career.