Enzo Maresca has told Omar Marmoush that his Manchester City future is ultimately his own call, days before the new Premier League season begins. The comments, reported by ESPN and Yahoo Sports, came after the Egyptian forward netted twice in City’s 3-1 pre-season victory over Atletico Madrid in Seoul on Sunday. The Chelsea-bound manager did not mince words.
Maresca drew a direct comparison between Marmoush’s situation and that of goalkeeper James Trafford, who moved to Leeds last week after failing to secure regular minutes at the Etihad. He acknowledged that players who are not getting enough game time are rarely content, and noted that Marmoush’s desire is likely to feature more often. More appearances at City remain possible, he said — but the final decision rests with the player himself.
A Backup Role Unlikely to Change
Marmoush, 27, arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025. Since then he has made 22 Premier League starts alongside 15 substitute appearances, scoring 10 league goals in that time. With Erling Haaland firmly established as City’s first-choice striker, the path to regular starts looks narrow. Under any manager.
City’s pre-season tour of Asia is taking place without several senior players. Haaland, Rodri, and Rayan Cherki are all absent, as are England internationals Elliot Anderson, Marc Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly, all of whom were involved in the World Cup.
Maresca Pleased With Squad’s Attitude
Despite the absentees, Maresca expressed satisfaction with how the available squad has responded to his methods. He told reporters the players have been open-minded since the start of pre-season and are genuinely trying to understand the reasoning behind his ideas. The group is improving. He can see them applying in matches what they are working on in training.
Maresca acknowledged the scale of what he is building, noting there is a significant path ahead to embed his patterns fully. He sees the trajectory as positive. It is early, but the signs are encouraging to him.
Pre-Season Preparation Nearing Its End
City will wrap up their Asia tour before turning attention to their Premier League opener. The squad returning from World Cup duty will bolster Maresca’s options once the season gets underway, giving him a fuller picture of how Marmoush fits into his plans, or whether the forward will have moved on by then.
Marmoush’s brace against Atletico was a reminder of his quality when given the opportunity. His manager has been clear. Whether that display prompts him to stay and fight for his place, or convinces another club to move for him, remains his call alone, according to Maresca.
