Enzo Maresca has formally requested that Manchester City sign Real Betis centre-back Natan in January, with the City manager leading the club’s pursuit of the Brazilian.
Natan has emerged as a new target ahead of the winter market, and it is largely down to Maresca that his performances have caught City‘s attention.
There’s a catch, though. The defender appreciates the Premier League interest, but his desire is to join Barcelona.
Natan to Man City: Maresca’s January request
Maresca has followed Natan closely since his time at Chelsea, and watched him up close in the Blues’ 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final in May 2025. He is still keen to bring the defender to the Etihad, and according to Fichero, he has now formally asked the club to sign him in January.
Natan initially joined Real Betis on loan from Napoli in 2024 and made the move permanent the following year. Last season he played 3,755 minutes across 45 matches and made Carlo Ancelotti’s pre-list for the World Cup, but missed the final cut and is still waiting for his Brazil debut. This season he has played 781 minutes in nine matches.
Where Natan would fit at Man City
Maresca already has Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as his four centre-backs, and Joško Gvardiol can also operate in the heart of defence.
City have already spent heavily this season. These are their 2026/27 signings so far:
| Player | Previous club | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | £125m |
| Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest | £116m |
| Ayyoub Bouaddi | Lille | £81.4m |
| Iliman Ndiaye | Everton | £65m |
| Allan | Palmeiras | £32m |
| Mathys Detourbet | Troyes | £21.7m |
| Jeremy Monga | Leicester City | £10m |
| Pierce Charles | Sheffield Wednesday | £3m |
| Geronimo Rulli | Marseille | £1.7m |
Why Natan is not an easy signing for Man City
City are far from the first Premier League club to try. In July, Leeds United made a fresh approach after Betis turned down their €27m bid, and Brentford had also shown interest. A month later, Fulham tabled a bid. None of them could prise Natan away from the Andalusian club.
Betis invested €9m to buy him and have set a €40m price to sell, which won’t be a problem for City. The bigger obstacle is the player himself. Barcelona explored a deal in the summer without making further advances or tabling an offer, but that is where Natan wants to go.
Author Opinion
When the manager formally asks for a player, it usually means business, and €40m is pocket change next to what City have already spent this season. The money is the easy part.
Changing Natan’s mind is the hard part. Barcelona have form for circling City’s targets this season, and if Natan is set on Spain, Maresca may have to convince him in person that the Etihad is the better move.
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