Tijani Reijnders' Future at Manchester City: Enzo Maresca's Insights

Enzo Maresca admits he may be powerless to stop Tijani Reijnders leaving Manchester City, accepting that last season’s frustrations are now shaping the midfielder’s future.

The City manager was asked whether Reijnders’ situation mirrors that of Omar Marmoush and James Trafford, whose limited roles previously have driven decisions this summer.

“Probably, yes,” Maresca said. “They all work every day, they do sessions every day and at the end of the week they all want to play a game. When they don't play, they struggle to understand or see the reason why. I can understand that after one season, some of them would like to play a little bit more. It's a normal situation.”

The message was clear: ambition in the squad is high, and patience has limits.

Difficult to convince players when they are already convinced

Pressed on whether he has tried to persuade Reijnders to stay, Maresca cut straight to the point.

“It's a bit difficult to convince players when they are already convinced, it's not always easy. It's Tijani's situation,” he said. “I think when the club, players, manager, they all think in the same way, that is probably the best decision for a player to go? They go.”

It sounded like a manager bracing for an exit rather than preparing to reintegrate a key squad member.

Maresca’s vision for Reijnders

Reijnders’ move is not yet complete, but Maresca revealed he had already mapped out a role for the Dutchman this season and had been encouraged by what he saw in pre-season.

“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” he said. “I already spoke with him a few times in pre-season, then we will see if he is going to leave or if he is going to stay, we try to...

“In the way he was playing in the pre-season games, I was quite happy with his performance overall. I know Tij from Italy, from Milan when he was there so I know him quite well. I know there he was playing in a different position, he likes to play a little more deep rather than high up the pitch, but again in the pre-season he was good, then we'll see what happens and we'll decide.”

A manager who knows the player, a player who wants more minutes, and a decision now looming over the next few hours. For City and Reijnders, the clock is ticking.