Enzo Maresca has revealed that several Manchester City players actively lobbied him for updates on whether Enzo Fernandez would be joining the club during the final days of the transfer window — so eager were they to play alongside the Argentina midfielder.

Fernandez, 25, completed a joint-British record move worth £125 million from Chelsea to City on deadline day, reuniting him with Maresca, under whom he worked extensively at Stamford Bridge.

A winner's mentality

Maresca left no doubt about his regard for the player. "I know Enzo quite well and I know what he can bring to the team," the City manager said. "He is a winner — a winner's mentality and knows how to win after the World Cup, Club World Cup."

The former Chelsea boss confirmed Fernandez is ready to make his Manchester City debut against newly promoted Coventry City in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

"In the last four or five days, four or five players from the squad were asking if he is coming or not because they want him to be with us," Maresca said. "It's very important that he is with us and we are 100% happy with that."

Leadership reshuffle

Although Maresca had named Fernandez club captain during their time together at Chelsea, the armband at City will go to Ruben Dias. Dias replaces Bernardo Silva, who left the club in the summer. Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma have also been included in the leadership group.

Fernandez's departure from Chelsea

Fernandez's desire to leave Stamford Bridge had been evident since the turn of the year. Even talks with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso could not alter his course.

Alonso responded to the departure with measured words. "In football many things happen. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it's time to move forward," he said. "We have players with quality in every position and now we are ready to go."

In an in-house interview on Thursday, Fernandez said he had always "dreamed of being at a club as big as City" — a remark widely interpreted as a dig at his former employers.

A summer of spending

City's transfer window activity broke all records, with the club spending £458 million in total on new arrivals. A revamped midfield cost £327 million alone, bringing in Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Wingers Iliman Ndiaye and Allan, along with back-up goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, also joined the squad. City offset some of that expenditure by recouping more than £300 million through player sales.

Maresca expressed his gratitude to those at the top of the club for making it all possible. "I am very happy for the effort from the ownership, Khaldoon and Hugo. Very happy," he said. "In the last days, Iliman and Enzo arrived, and now the squad is complete — it's finished. Now it is time to work."