The membership drew 2-2 with Arsenal, however that wasn’t the explanation why their season appeared getting ready to collapse. No, it was the ACL damage suffered by Rodri which was positive to finish Metropolis’s pursuit of a record-extending fifth Premier League title in a row.
After a collision with Thomas Partey, the Spaniard limped out of the sport and that was the final time he was seen on the pitch. Pep Guardiola acknowledged afterwards that “this season is over [for him].”
He was arguably the membership’s most influential participant and so they appeared like a special workforce within the months after. Certainly, between November and March, the Etihad facet received simply ten of their 27 fixtures in all competitions.
With league title ambitions gone in a puff of smoke, plus an early exit within the Champions League, Guardiola wanted to get again to the drafting board. And quick.
A number of signings have been made through the winter switch window. Omar Marmoush appears to be like the half, whereas Vitor Reis is a centre-back who has a brilliant future forward of him.
May the signing of Nico González from Porto, nevertheless, be Guardiola’s most necessary in recent times? Particularly given how a lot the membership have missed somebody like Rodri on the coronary heart of their midfield.
Dare I say it, however the winter arrival would possibly simply be the pure successor to the 28-year-old in Manchester.
Nico González was made in Barcelona
Like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets earlier than him, González emerged by the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona with hopes of replicating the feats of this nice triumvirate.
Regardless of making his debut for the membership through the 2021/22 season, making 37 appearances general, González was loaned to Valencia for the next marketing campaign.
He did set up himself as a strong and dependable midfielder, nevertheless it was clear that to fulfil his skills, a transfer away from Barcelona was wanted.
Porto splashed out simply £17m to safe his signature. a determine that, sooner or later, would flip right into a splendid cut price.
González’s means to contribute each defensively and going ahead was quickly demonstrated in Portugal. Throughout his first league marketing campaign, the Spaniard ranked within the high 9% for each duels received (136) and possession received within the ultimate third (15) whereas additionally rating within the high 7% for touches within the opposition field (60).
Not solely was the previous Barcelona participant tenacious in his one-on-one battles, however he usually pushed ahead from a deep mendacity function to not solely win the ball again within the ultimate third, however to hold it into the penalty space.
As such, he was rewarded with two objectives and three assists in all competitions for Porto final season.
This proved to be the catalyst for the primary half of the present season with the Portuguese giants. A licence to bomb forwards and sometimes out broad, allowed the 23-year-old to attain seven instances and chip in with 5 assists (all competitions).
These performances have been a positive hearth solution to enhance his quickly rising popularity in Portugal.
With cash to spend, Guardiola needed to carry a midfielder in to go with his squad. For £50m, González was quickly a Man Metropolis participant and this transfer appeared prefer it may present the platform for additional improvement.
A successor to Rodri? The teenager may turn into even higher than his compatriot if he continues on this upwards trajectory.
Nico González and Manchester Metropolis is a match made in heaven
The Spaniard definitely matches Rodri’s unbelievable physicality and wonderful positional consciousness, however the 23-year-old does appear to supply extra dynamism within the ultimate third of the pitch than his teammate.
It’s no secret that Metropolis have struggled towards groups taking part in with a low block this season. Marmoush has been a wonderful signing on this regard, netting seven objectives in 18 video games.
Having somebody like Gonáalez, nevertheless, who is ready to time runs to perfection and supply help to the likes of the Egyptian and Erling Haaland, offers Guardiola an enormous increase.
Raised the La Masia method, he definitely is aware of management play whereas scanning for a gap.
Within the Premier League for Metropolis, the previous Barcelona starlet makes 6.39 progressive passes and 6.67 passes into the ultimate third per 90. These statistics rank him within the high 12% and 4% for these respective metrics.
Rodri took some time to correctly settle in at Metropolis, earlier than rising as one of many membership’s key gamers throughout their treble profitable 2022/23 marketing campaign.
González appears to be like the half when he has featured below Guardiola since arriving in Manchester.
The supervisor is about to welcome again Rodri to the first-team fold within the subsequent few weeks and hopefully he returns to full health earlier than the 2025/26 season.
In González, Metropolis have the right long-term inheritor to the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. That’s for sure.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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