Manchester City appear to have found a replacement for Rodri in a €60 million deal to sign Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
The transfer brings the Citizens’ total spending in January to £180m, more than all their previous winter transfers under Pep Guardiola combined.
Gonzalez, 23, has undergone a medical in Portugal and will sign a five-and-a-half-year contract.
His former club Barcelona will also get 40% of the transfer fee if Gonzalez is sold in the future.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been sorely missed by City this season during his injury absence. Fortunately, there is some good news in Rodri’s recovery from a knee ligament injury.
The Spain international is set to be included in City’s squad for the Champions League knockout stages.
Fortunately, Rodri will not be alone at the Etihad Stadium. He will soon be ed by compatriot Nico Gonzalez, who is also capable of operating in a defensive midfield role.
Nico, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, is reported to have completed his move to England just before the transfer window closed.
Fabrizio Romano reports that City have triggered a release clause in Nico’s Porto contract. The 21-year-old has been given permission to undergo a medical and sign for the reigning Premier League champions.
Nico arrives after a productive 18 months with Porto, where he showed his quality as a talented young midfielder.
Nico will be the latest big g at the Etihad Stadium. Despite still being overshadowed by 115 allegations of Financial Fair Play (FFP) violations, City do not seem to hesitate to spend big money in this winter transfer market.
In addition to Nico, City have also recruited Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov. These steps show City’s ambition to remain competitive in various competitions, even amidst the pressure of financial regulations.
Nico’s arrival is expected to provide additional options for Pep Guardiola in midfield, while ensuring that City remain strong even without Rodri.
Gonzalez is a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He made his debut for Barcelona’s B team in 2019 and made 27 appearances. In 2021, he was given the chance to play for Barcelona’s first team, making 37 appearances in total.
After spending the 2022/2023 season on loan at Valencia, Gonzalez decided to make a permanent move to Porto in the summer of 2023.
During his time at Porto, he made 68 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists, helping the club win the Taça de Portugal last season.
In his statement, Gonzalez said that ing Manchester City was the perfect opportunity to test himself in the Premier League.
“I am 23 years old and I want to test myself in England. There is no better club than Manchester City to do that,” he said.
