Anderson's role under Maresca taking shape
Elliot Anderson is not arriving to fill a jersey. Enzo Maresca already has a tactical plan for the midfielder, with a defined role mapped out for the new signing (3). Anderson is expected to operate as one of the advanced midfielders in Maresca's system, giving City fans a clear picture of where the 23-year-old fits before pre-season even begins.
Rodri ready for Spain's knockout clash
Rodri has eased any lingering fitness concerns ahead of Spain's last-16 showdown with Portugal on Monday night (2). The midfielder trained fully and looks set to start. Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes will be on the other side. One of your own is going home after this one.
Haaland's Norway form changes pre-season plans
Erling Haaland keeps scoring for Norway, and that changes things back at City. Maresca is factoring Haaland's international workload into his pre-season schedule, with the striker likely to get an extended rest before rejoining the squad (4). Norway face England on Saturday. City fans will be watching that one closely.
Wyness: pathway problem is pushing talents away
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness has spelled out what many City fans already feel. Young talents are looking elsewhere. "It's always a problem for City, for Chelsea, all those teams that are trying to build up youth stocks right now. The whole thing, two words: pathway and minutes," Wyness said (1). Reigan Heskey is the name on everyone's mind.
Fan reactions
Divin Mubama's potential loan to Derby County has split opinion. Some fans see it as a smart Championship move for a young striker who needs minutes, others worry it signals another academy talent drifting away from the first team. Meanwhile, Haaland's exploding social media following, 3.3 million new followers in a day, has fans buzzing ahead of Norway vs England on Saturday. That match thread is already filling up.
