Enzo Maresca reserved his most enthusiastic words this week for an 18-year-old winger who has barely played senior football.
“He’s the kind of winger that I love,” the Italian said of Ryan McAidoo, before laying out the reason. “Because he’s not scared, he wants the ball, he will always be aggressive, 1v1, 1v1, 1v1.”
McAidoo is one of three Manchester City academy graduates Maresca has embedded in his first-team squad, the trio confirmed to be involved against Norwich City in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Kaden Braithwaite, a defender who featured in the win at Crystal Palace, and 17-year-old attacking midfielder Floyd Samba complete the group.
‘They’re going to be involved’
Maresca has not treated the three as passengers. “These three work with us regularly, every day, unless sometimes they go with the EDS because they need to play,” he told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference. “But they’re going to be involved.”
He stopped short of naming a starter but made clear the Norwich tie was theirs to seize. “I’m not saying [they will play] from the beginning, but they’re with us.”
Samba, still to make his senior debut, has 29 goals and 11 assists across 58 youth appearances. “For sure he’ll get some minutes,” Maresca said.
Physical profile and versatility
The manager was blunt about why Samba and Braithwaite had stayed with the seniors. “Both physically, they are very strong,” Maresca said. “Then Floyd is an attacking midfielder, arriving in the box, good finish, so can be a good profile.”
On Braithwaite he pointed to a defender who can move across the back line. “Kaden, again, physically strong. I think he can be a central defender, full-back, he needs to learn, but he can be both, he can play in both positions.”
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Maresca has cited the emotional pull the academy still holds inside the dressing room, comparing it to the standing Phil Foden built up over the years. Academy players, he suggested, carry a different feeling about the club than signings do.
City’s post-Guardiola summer
The trio’s promotion is one of the more concrete signals of a new voice at the City Football Academy. Pep Guardiola announced his departure on 22 May after ten seasons and 20 trophies. “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time,” Guardiola said at the time.
City finished second in the 2025-26 Premier League behind Arsenal, but lifted the FA Cup and EFL Cup double. Maresca was appointed on 29 June to take over the rebuild.
Norwich, currently in the Championship, kick off at the Etihad Stadium at 7:30pm local time on Thursday, 17 September.
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