Nico Gonzalez was the last signing of the January transfer window for Manchester City but he may be the most important

Nico Gonzalez was the last signing of the January transfer window for Manchester City but he may be the most important.

Nico Gonzalez

Nico Gonzalez battles with Dominik Szoboszlai during City’s defeat to Liverpool

In what was an unprecedented January spending spree for Manchester City, they might not necessarily have saved the best until last when it comes to their four new arrivals, but for this season, they certainly saved the most important until last.

 

After the signings of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush came the £50million deadline-day deal for Nico Gonzalez, the midfielder City needed to fill the giant Rodri-shaped hole that had been left in the team since the Ballon d’Or winner’s season-ending knee injury.

 

The 23-year-old is a versatile midfielder capable of playing further forward, but when he arrived from Porto, his task for the remainder of this season was clear: replace Rodri. If that wasn’t already laid out in front of the Barcelona academy graduate, then Pep Guardiola made it clear when he described Gonzalez as a “mini Rodri” after the 4-0 win against Newcastle United.

 

The Spain Under-21 international has enjoyed a solid start to his Etihad career and could flourish in an all-Spanish midfield next to Rodri in time. For now, however, he is holding the fort, although he refutes the suggestion he is here as a replacement for Rodri and insists he doesn’t feel the pressure to be the main man in midfield.

 

“I don’t see it that way. I just feel like we play to win every match. It doesn’t matter who plays, we’re a team that is very united with everyone now,” he said.

 

“It doesn’t matter if I play, or Kova [Mateo Kovacic] plays, or whoever, I don’t see myself as the replacement for Rodri, I see myself as another player.”

 

Gonzalez certainly possesses the skillset to thrive in a City team under Guardiola. He excelled for Porto but believes that playing in a team that is comfortable on the ball and dominant in possession will suit him even more.

 

He had plenty of ground to cover against Liverpool on Sunday in an attacking City team, but when Rodri returns, Guardiola will insist on control once again, and a player reared at La Masia can help deliver that.

 

 

“I was raised in Barcelona, and I’ve always more or less played the way we play here, I’ve got used to playing here very quickly,” said Gonzalez.

 

“Obviously, the team plays really well, there are also players close to me to have the ball, and everyone wants the ball every time, so it’s easy to find players and find passes. The quality of the players is so good, so for me, it’s easier to play here than the team I used to play.”

 

Unfortunately for Gonzalez, slotting into the spot vacated by Rodri and rescuing City’s season would have been a challenge beyond almost any player. Defeats in February to title challengers Arsenal and Liverpool and losing both Champions League play-off fixtures to Real Madrid have consigned the Blues to a battle for the top four and a tilt at the FA Cup.

 

 

City’s era of dominance will end at four titles in a row, and the crown looks to be heading to Merseyside after Liverpool’s victory at the Etihad, but there are signs the rebuild is already making progress.

 

Gonzalez (23), Khusanov (20) and Marmoush (26) have all made an impact since they arrived mid-season, and there have been signs of encouragement, such as that 4-0 win against Newcastle. Gonzalez was also pleased with the performance against Liverpool, with City dominating territory, and believes the hurt of seeing the title slip away can act as fuel.

 

“I think everyone has the will to improve the situation, to win all the matches, and [on Sunday] you’ve seen the intensity and the courage all players have played with,” he said.

 

“I think it’s just time. We need time to start winning. We did a really good match one week ago. Today we did a good match, but we didn’t get the win we wanted.

 

“Obviously, even me, I haven’t won a Premier League, and I’ve been here two weeks and it’s disappointing to lose and disappointing to be fourth in the league. But we have to know the situation we’re in and fight every match like we’ve done [against Liverpool]. We have positive things to take, and we have to keep going.”

 

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