Analyzed Nico Gonzalez Signature: Man City midfielder in relation to Rodra and Sergio Busquets also brings different qualities | Football news

The strong need of Manchester City for the central midfielder was finally resolved with the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto from £ 50m. In the 23-year-old Spaniard, Pep Guardiola Hope has found someone who can play instead of Rodri and beside him.

Gonzalez’s heights and physicality hint at the type of robustness and athletics that was hard to miss Roman’s absence, while his target goal, playing in a more advanced role in Porto, shows that he is versatile enough to be more than a backup.

It is a bet on a pedigree and potential, given that Gonzalez is not yet a full Spanish international. But it is full of both, and the native Galician, which was identified as a talent worth developing in the Barcelona Academy before he was even a teenager.

Pau Marta trained Gonzalez at B -Barcelona’s Matcas in the third level of Spain all season before seeing him progressing to make 37 appearances for the first team. “I worked with many good players of those years,” says Marti Sky Sports. Gonzalez was a little different.

‘Reading the game’

For La Masia graduates, Tim B can be a difficult school, where their smooth passing game is exposed to a second style, many opponents a decade older. “Nico was one of the players who had more influence on the team, even though he was so young,” Marti says.

“Sometimes it is difficult for young players to make a difference playing in the third division against men. But he is. Who could do it.

“When Nico was on the B team, you could see that he made a difference. In some aspects, like physicality, he was very tall above the rest. You could soon see that he didn’t get enough. He was someone who is someone who is sure , he wanted to move on.

“When you are in Barcelona, ​​you always hear about a few names when they come through the level of young people, the one you know they will arrive in the first team, just not when. With the Gava and, of course, Lamine [Yamal]Nico was one of them.

‘So mature’

“He was 18 when he played for the B team and was so mature in the team that he started maybe one or two games on the bench. After that he was on the team because he was ahead of all in that position.” In his progress, he also took the football football football.

“It was his maturity. At that age, when you play for Barcelona, ​​sometimes players can be everywhere. Many people talk about them. They become famous. They get good money with young people. But Nico was not affected by any of that.

“He was very confident, but he was always willing to learn, willing to listen and improve his game. He is very intelligent and wants and expects to reach the next level.” Helps explain the moves to Valencia and Porto. He supported himself.

‘Busquets player style’

What is interesting, perhaps the key to him that he earns this transition to Manchester City, is that the abandonment of Barcelona has seen his game developing in a different way. The player he compared the most to La Masia was Sergio Busquets, a big midfielder.

“Because he’s so big but good with his feet, I think it’s very similar,” Marti says. “We used Nico mostly as no.”

Gonzalez, 6ft 2in, was actually distributed as no. 8 in the younger categories, although it also applies to Busquets. “He also started as 8, playing a little more. Nico always wanted to play more.” It took a break from Barcelona to get that opportunity.

This is in Porto, a club that he joined in an 8m -million pound agreement in the summer of 2023, where that ability in the last third of the field was more obvious, becoming a real threat to the goal. Gonzalez scored twice for Barcelona. He has achieved seven for Porta this season.

‘Moves the ball quickly’

“For his size, I think it is as it moves the ball so quickly. It is not common for its size. That’s why he score goals, he’s good near the frame, doing the last passage. Because he is so confident and so calm with the ball, protecting the ball and using his body. “

It sounds a lot like Rodri, which, of course, has achieved its famous goals. Although, there are differences. Gonzalez is more likely to get in the box late to run at the opportunity, not to burst from the edge of the penalty area.

Marta sets the point that the number 6 in the city must be a little different from not 6 in a team that is less dominant anyway. Rodri becomes more than 8. “Since they can dominate the field more, it means that no 6 is also quite close to the box.”

Gonzalez numbers reflect its impact on the upper end of the terrain. He referred to the top 10 players in Portugal for possession of the winnings, and the passage ended in the last third. Despite playing so high, the end of the passage of the passage was even more than 90 percent.

Marti’s belief remains that the deeper role will be Gonzalez’s best in the long run. “I think he can be a very good number 8 but a great number 6.” Being able to do both is what Gonzalez does so attractive. “It will depend on what PEP wants.”

‘Pep will have a plan’

Someone who has a presence that can stop the chances of bleeding in the city on the counterparty is what Guardiola wants in the short term. What is certain is that Gonzalez is a player to know a lot about. His father Fran was his international teammate.

“Pep is a good friend of Fran.” The deportivo La Coruna legend has been part of the Manchester City staff for several years. “Pep will know everything about Nico a long time ago. I’m sure he’ll learn a lot from PEP, I think he’ll have a plan for him, 100 percent.”

For Barcelona supporters, the thought of Gonzalez continuing its development away from the club was already unpleasant. The chances of flourishing under the Guardiola in Manchester City is particularly worrying. That didn’t have to be this way.

“I thought it would stay,” Marta admits. “Because for me he was a player who, even so young, started playing games on a good level. Sometimes it can be difficult to be young in Barcelona. That might look the opposite to Lamine now, but it can be.

“There’s a lot of pressure on young players. I think Nico did pretty well, but there was a financial situation. And he may have seen that it would be difficult for him to have minutes and he wanted to gain more experience. But I think he could stay.

“I think he could be perfectly suitable for Barcelona because of his profile, another Sergio Busquets for the club, but sometimes it’s football. In Barcelona, ​​if Nico starts performing, everyone will now start to complain about why let me go.”

But for those who know him, there is only pride. “Whether it’s a city or Barcelona, ​​I’m so happy.” And this could only be the beginning. “If he gets a few minutes, he can get a chance with Spanish.” Then there is a big move for Nico Gonzalez. And a solution for Manchester City.