Enzo Maresca fires clear transfer message to Man City board after fielding shock lineup in first game for club

ENZO MARESCA played Marc Guehi as a makeshift midfielder in perhaps a pointed message to Manchester City’s board. City are on the brink of an £86m deal for Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi but Maresca wants more players in the engine room. Enzo Maresca played Marc Guehi as a makeshift midfielder in perhaps a pointed message to Manchester City’s board Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Two Rayan Cherki assists for two defenders inspired a nine minute comeback against Bournemouth Credit: Alamy Maresca was forced into finding a “solution” after Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders left the club, while Nico Gonzalez is set to join Newcastle. England centre-back Guehi scored City’s equaliser as new boss Maresca oversaw a comeback 2-1 win over Bournemouth, with Mateo Kovacic on the bench. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Maresca said: “I had to find a solution. I don’t know if Marc can play there for the next game again. Now we need a different solution. “I know Marc from Crystal Palace and I always thought he could be a good midfielder. So sometimes you visualise things you need to try.” Maresca revealed he planned to “see the board” following the final whistle, unaware that City were already on the verge of landing Bouaddi. The 18-year-old, who starred for Morocco at the World Cup, is set to become the most expensive teenage signing in Prem history, beating the £59.9m rivals United paid for Leny Yoro from the same club in 2024. City, who signed Elliot Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest, want Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez while Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Roma’s Manu Kone have also been on the club’s wishlist. As well as Guehi, Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola this summer, also picked full back Nico O’Reilly in an attacking midfielder role. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Asked if City have finally tracked down a “new Rodri,” Maresca deadpanned: “Marc Guehi.” It brought a laugh, but relying on an England defender in central midfield is clearly no long-term fix. Maresca celebrated his first Prem win as City boss, but admitted plenty of work needs to be done before the window closes on September 1. The Italian added: “At the moment I don’t have a best XI but day by day I can see more clearly.” City survived a late scare while a freshly trimmed Erling Haaland had a close shave of his own, drawing a blank on opening day for the first time in his Premier League career. Maresca revealed Rayan Cherki was “not happy” about being benched — before coming on to deliver an “unbelievable impact” with two assists to spark City’s thrilling turnaround. Maresca turned to blow kisses at his family in the stands after Josko Gvardiol‘s stoppage time winner was given after VAR overturned the on-field officials offside call. The former Chelsea boss, who watched as a section of fans unearthed a welcoming tifo at kick-off, said: “It was the perfect day. I was very emotional. “I was very pleased when the game started to watch the ban on the other side. I was happy at the end because we walked away with three points.” City forward Omar Marmoush was on the bench ahead of a potential move to Spurs, while Jack Grealish was brought on in the final eight minutes and was serenaded by the home crowd in what could have been his final match for the club, with a return to Everton looming. Maresca said: “He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best from him. The window is open for one more week and we will see what happens.” Asked where he will play next week, Guehi jested: “Who knows? Maybe up front. We’ll see.” Comment now