Meet Man City signing Nico Gonzalez, who is son of Pep Guardiola’s former team-mate and could be £50m Rodri solution
Meet Man City signing Nico Gonzalez, who is son of Pep Guardiola’s former team-mate and could be £50m Rodri solution
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PEP GUARDIOLA has turned to a familiar face in his bid to finally find his Rodri replacement at Manchester City. The struggling champions were last night putting the finishing touches to a £50million deal for Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez. And he is the son of former Spain international Fran – who was named in the Euro 2000 squad alongside Pep. City could have saved themselves a few quid as young Nico, now 23, came close to joining City soon after Guardiola arrived at the club back in 2016.
![[Photo of Nico Gonzalez, a Porto midfielder.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/21-02-2024-portos-nico-968917856_fa3513.jpg?strip=all&w=724)
At the time his father Fran – who was a legend with Deportivo and played alongside Txiki Begiristain – was working with the Under 18s at the Etihad Campus. A deal was lined up for young Nico – who was 14 at the time - to leave Barcelona’s La Masia and link up with City’s academy instead. But the move never materialised and instead he spent more than a decade on the books at Barca – something which is sure to appeal to Guardiola.
![[Spain's Fran controls the ball during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/spains-fran-right-controls-ball-1420857.jpg?strip=all&w=754)
He joined Valencia on loan in summer 2022 to gain some first team experience and a year later he won a permanent move to Porto. At the time, the Catalan giants were keen to secure a buy-back option as part of the deal and they have a sell on clause so will receive a sizeable chunk of the fee. Guardiola struggled to find a suitable back up for Ballon D’Or winner Rodri while the Spanish international was fit.
![[Manchester City's Rodri before a match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-manchester-citys-rodri-match-967621935.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY. He sanctioned a £45million move for Kalvin Phillips but the England man struggled with fitness and form – and failed to win the trust of the manager. Recently he had loan spells with West Ham and Ipswich and while he remains on City’s books it looks unlikely he will return. Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have all tried to play the number six role which Guardiola values so much – but none of them have been a perfect fit.
