Manchester City did not hang about and secured another reinforcement for the midfield. Spanish midfielder Nico González, 23 years old, will move to the Premier League from FC Porto after the agreement on the transfer amount for €60 million was concluded. Payment by installments of the transfer money, plus five-and-a-half-year contract with top-class European soccer salary.
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For Pep Guardiola, Nico's arrival represents the realization of a long-held dream. In his teams, the coach has always liked technical, polyvalent midfielders with great control of the ball, and all those qualities were present in this young Spaniard.
Why did City want Nico González?
The midfield at Manchester City is full of talented players, yet it still requires more options. Rodri has been the linchpin in Guardiola's system and shoulders much workload, for without him, the tactical balance would break. Nico González might change that for them.
Above all, Guardiola likes players who can control the tempo of the game, are tactically great, and play various midfield roles. Nico fits that mold. He is physically strong, skilled at distributing the ball, and intelligent in positioning-all traits very much needed in City's way of playing.
With Porto, he was great. A promising talent when he arrived in a few months, he was one of the central pieces in the team. Several European clubs had him in their sights, but City proved to be the only side with a wallet ready to open for him.
Was paying €60 million worth it?
That is the big question. Nico González is a class player, but he has yet to prove himself as one of the top midfielders in European soccer. As much as he enjoyed bright spells at Porto, he is yet to put up performances that would make people talk in major international competitions.
Besides, the price tag is steep for a player who hasn't reached his peak yet. However, City is no stranger to betting big on talents Guardiola believes can develop under his guidance. The real question, though: will Nico get enough playing time to prove himself, or will he be just another squad player?
Another important fact to remark on in this transfer is that Barcelona will make something from the deal. With the Catalan club retaining 40% of the rights on any future sale, they will make an estimated €20 million from this move. Without having him in their squad anymore, Barça receives profits from his transfer.
That's one of the biggest question marks over this deal. City already boast a world-class midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, and Matheus Nunes already on their books. Competition for places will be extreme, and Nico will have to get used to the frenetic pace of the Premier League straight away.
First and foremost, he's more likely to be a rotational player, getting minutes in less demanding matches, but if he ever impresses Guardiola, then he could find himself important in the team's midfield rotation.