{
  "id": 1339643,
  "title": "EPL: Any team ‘ld miss him, Maresca hails Ballon d’Or winner Rodri",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/epl-any-team-ld-miss-him-maresca-hails-ballon-dor-winner-rodri-1339643",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T20:14:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/epl-any-team-ld-miss-him-maresca-hails-ballon-dor-winner-rodri/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has praised the significance of midfielder Rodri to the team, emphasizing that any club in the world would be deeply affected by his absence. Maresca highlighted Rodri’s remarkable individual accomplishments, including winning the World Cup and being awarded the Ballon d’Or, underscoring his status as a top-tier player essential for any squad. However, Maresca advised against attributing City’s current challenges solely to Rodri’s potential departure. He clarified that the focus should remain on the team’s overall performance rather than solely on Rodri’s contributions. Maresca also confirmed that the club is actively planning for future signings in order to address any gaps left by Rodri. The manager expressed confidence that City is prepared to make necessary adjustments and will be actively working to strengthen the team.",
  "summary": "Man City manager Enzo Maresca praises Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, acknowledging his importance while stressing team performance over individual absence. Read More: https://punchng.com/epl-any-team-ld-miss-him-maresca-hails-ballon-dor-winner-rodri/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "EPL: Any team ‘ld miss him, Maresca hails Ballon d’Or winner Rodri",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/epl-any-team-ld-miss-him-maresca-hails-ballon-dor-winner-rodri",
        "published": "2026-08-16T19:52:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}