Manchester City's summer transfer window was defined by a shock they did not see coming — the departure of Rodri, a move that caught both the club and head coach Enzo Maresca off guard.

The Spain international's exit proved to be the central storyline of an unusually turbulent window for City, one in which the club's ambitions were only partially fulfilled.

A departure that changed everything

Rodri's decision to leave came as a genuine surprise to the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder had been considered an untouchable cornerstone of the squad, and his exit forced the club to rethink its plans for the season ahead with little time to spare.

Maresca, tasked with steering City through the transition, found himself navigating the rebuild under pressure — a significant challenge for a manager still establishing his authority at one of Europe's biggest clubs.

Midfield reshaping becomes priority

With Rodri's void to fill, reinforcing the midfield became the defining challenge of the window. The club explored multiple avenues to bring in replacements, though not every pursuit ended in success. City's recruitment team faced a competitive market and found that their ambitions were not always matched by available options or willing sellers.

Among the names linked to the club, Enzo Fernández was reported to be a player City considered as a potential addition to address the gap left by Rodri. However, a deal did not materialise.

Barcelona were also part of the broader transfer landscape during the window, with cross-club activity and player movement shaping negotiations across Europe's elite.

A window of mixed results

Ultimately, City's summer brought a combination of progress and frustration. The unexpected nature of Rodri's exit set the tone for a window that required rapid adaptation — and not every piece of the puzzle fell into place before deadline day.

For Maresca, the challenge now is to build a competitive side capable of challenging on all fronts, even without one of the most influential midfielders of his generation at his disposal.