Manchester City has been struggling since Rodri’s absence hit the team. Now, it seems like they found Rodri’s replacement, as they signed Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez for €60 million.
City’s deadline deal marks their fourth winter signing. Gonzalez, who is 23 years old, will be a boost for the team’s midfield.
The deal is set to last for four and a half years, which will keep Gonzalez at the club until 2029.
Gonzalez began his football journey in 2013 with Barcelona’s La Masia Academy. The midfielder’s talent was quite clear as he made his way to Barcelona’s first team.
When Gonzalez spent an entire season at Valencia, it didn’t take long for him to impress. He then made the move to Porto where he scored nine goals. Now, he’s found his way to City.
Gonzalez told Manchester City’s official website how this opportunity was “perfect” for him. He said:
“This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career. I am 23 and I want to test myself in England. There’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that. Look at the squad they have here. It’s unbelievable, full of world-class players. There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this set-up. I know the reputation Pep has and I cannot wait to work with him. In fact, I am honoured he wants me to play in his team. I am truly excited. I just want to meet my teammates, and the staff here and then I want to play in front of the City fans!”
Manchester City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain had words of his own to say.
“Nico is a very talented young midfielder. He is an ideal acquisition for Manchester City. It was a difficult transfer to complete because his performances this season have been outstanding and he has been such an important part of what FC Porto are doing. We are really happy we have managed to get this done before the window closed. He is ready to help us in the second half of the season as we compete in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.”
This is the perfect deal for City who are suffering the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. Now, the team has Gonzalez who will be expected to fill the absence of Rodri. This isn’t an easy task, but someone with Gonzalez’s talent might be able to impress.
The move could be very beneficial for Manchester City, especially since they had their eyes on Gonzalez for a while. Fans will have to wait and see if the deal will live up to expectations.
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