Several Manchester City players wanted to know if Enzo Fernandez would join the club in the final days of the transfer window as they were keen to play alongside him, says manager Enzo Maresca. On Saturday. “I know Enzo pretty well and I know what he can bring to the team,” Maresca said. “He is a winner, he has a winner’s mentality and he knows how to win. [after] the World Cup, the Club World Cup. Maresca named Fernández as Chelsea captain, but confirmed Rubén Dias as City’s new captain, replacing Bernardo Silva, who left in the summer, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma as part of the management group. Maresca added: “I just said that he is a winner and when you belong to a team and another winning player arrives, they are always happy.” “It is very important that he is with us and we are 100% happy with that.” During an internal, external interview on Thursday, Fernandez said he had always “dreamed of being at a club as big as City”, which was seen as a snub to his former club Chelsea. Fernandez’s heart has been set on leaving Stamford Bridge since the start of the year and talks with manager Xabi Alonso this summer could not change his mind. Alonso said: “Many things happen in football. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it is time to move on. We have quality players in all positions and now we are ready to start.” Iliman Ndiaye and Allan, as well as back-up goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, were other first-team players the club signed, although they recouped more than £300m from player sales. Maresca added: “I am very happy for the efforts of the owners. [chairman] brothon [Al Mubarak] and [director of football] hugo [Viana]. Very happy. “In the last few days Iliman and Enzo arrived, and now the team is complete, it’s finished. Now it’s time to work.”
