‘Medical booked’ - Man City agree £50m deal to sign former Barcelona midfielder
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Premier League heavyweights Manchester City are on the verge of completing the marquee signing of FC Porto star Nico Gonzalez.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano understands that the champions have agreed to pay a £50m release clause to sign the Barcelona academy graduate on transfer Deadline Day and reports that the 23-year-old is currently travelling to Manchester to complete a medical and negotiate personal terms with the Etihad club.
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Hide AdRomano confirmed the news on X, he posted: EXCLUSIVE: “Nico González to Manchester City, here we go! New midfielder for Pep Guardiola as Man City will pay same amount as release clause worth €60m with different structure. Nico, allowed to travel for medical and contract signing soon. Exclusive story, confirmed.”
Who is Nico Gonzalez?
Nico Gonzalez is a 23-year-old Spanish midfielder, who is expected to become City’s latest addition of the transfer window after the signings of centre back Abdukodir Khusanov for £33.5m from RC Lens, defender Vitor Reis for £29.6m from Palmerias and significantly the £59m arrival of highly-rated Frankfurt attacker Omar Marmoush.
Gonzalez was born in A Coruña, Galicia, and started out his career with local side Montañeros before joining Barcelona at the age of 11.
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The youngster quickly progressed through the academy and after impressing for Spain at Under-17 and Under-21 level was promoted to the Barcelona first team.
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Hide AdHe made 27 league appearances during the 2021/22 season and registered two goals and one assist over the course of the campaign as Xavi’s side finished runners-up to Real Madrid in their first season without Lionel Messi.
Gonzalez spent the following season on loan at fellow La Liga side Valencia and was a first team regular for the relegation-threatened side before completing a permanent move away from his homeland to join FC Porto in the summer of 2023.
He has racked up 68 appearances at the heart of Porto’s midfield and has scored nine goals and registered as many assists while winning the Portuguese cup and their equivalent of the Community Shield in the process.
Why Manchester City have made the move for Nico Gonzalez
City have been exploring their options in the market for a new No 6 after a huge collapse in form in both the league and Europe following the long-term injury to star performer and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
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Hide AdThe Spaniard played an imperative part in helping City win four consecutive league titles and was the lynchpin at the heart of midfield which connected attack and defence whilst nullifying the threat of the opposition.
Mateo Kovacic and summer signing Ilkay Gundogan have struggled to fill the void in Rodri’s absence since his ACL injury, and have been part of a team which has leaked plenty of unnecessary goals in recent weeks. This was summarised by a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Arsenal in the team’s most recent outing.
The Sky Blues have been assessing several options throughout January, with former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, one of a number of midfielders they were initially looking into - but Gonzalez’ play-style and his similarities with Rodri are the main reason City have triggered the deal.
Reaction to the move
European football expert Kevin Hatchard told Sky Sports News that Gonzalez has all the qualities to transform City’s season. He said: “It's an absolute fit, he could do a really good job for them. Pep Guardiola has been an admirer of him for some time, City have been as well. He's been linked with a move to City since he was a youth player so he's a really interesting figure who has matured at Porto. He has made some forward steps there and could be a really good player."
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Hide AdHowever, others such as ex-Spurs and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood believe it could be a panic deal. He explained: "You can't compare the Portuguese league with the Premier League. It's a risk, especially in January. What exactly are City signing Gonzalez for? Unless you're going to bring in someone who is better than what you've got and will beat Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off game, other than that they've got nothing else to play for.
"They can't beat Real Madrid with the midfield they had yesterday. They have to find something different to that. But are they ever going to find someone good enough to do that in this transfer market? Absolutely not. Douglas Luiz would be the no-risk one because he knows the Premier League, but it looks like that is not going to get done. When everyone's fit, Gonzalez isn't going to play and they will ship him out again."
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