The club drew 2-2 with Arsenal, but that wasn’t the reason why their season looked on the brink of collapse. No, it was the ACL injury suffered by Rodri which was sure to end City’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 game and that was the last time he was seen on the pitch. Pep Guardiola stated afterwards that “this season is over [for him].”
He was arguably the club’s most influential player and they looked like a different team in the months after. Indeed, between November and March, the Etihad side won just ten of their 27 fixtures in all competitions.
With league title ambitions gone in a puff of smoke, plus an early exit in the Champions League, Guardiola needed to get back to the drawing board. And fast.
A host of signings were made during the winter transfer window. Omar Marmoush looks the part, while Vitor Reis is a centre-back who has a bright future ahead of him.
Could the signing of Nico González from Porto, however, be Guardiola’s most important in recent years? Especially given how much the club have missed someone like Rodri at the heart of their midfield.
Dare I say it, but the winter arrival might just be the natural successor to the 28-year-old in Manchester.
Nico González was made in Barcelona
Like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets before him, González emerged through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona with hopes of replicating the feats of this great triumvirate.
Despite making his debut for the club during the 2021/22 season, making 37 appearances overall, González was loaned to Valencia for the following campaign.
He did establish himself as a solid and reliable midfielder, but it was clear that to fulfil his talents, a move away from Barcelona was needed.
Porto splashed out just £17m to secure his signature. a figure that, in due course, would turn into a splendid bargain.
González’s ability to contribute both defensively and going forward was soon demonstrated in Portugal. During his first league campaign, the Spaniard ranked in the top 9% for both duels won (136) and possession won in the final third (15) while also ranking in the top 7% for touches in the opposition box (60).
Not only was the former Barcelona player tenacious in his one-on-one battles, but he regularly pushed forward from a deep lying role to not only win the ball back in the final third, but to carry it into the penalty area.
As such, he was rewarded with two goals and three assists in all competitions for Porto last season.
This proved to be the catalyst for the first half of the current season with the Portuguese giants. A licence to bomb forwards and often out wide, allowed the 23-year-old to score seven times and chip in with five assists (all competitions).
These performances were a sure fire way to increase his rapidly growing reputation in Portugal.
With money to spend, Guardiola wanted to bring a midfielder in to compliment his squad. For £50m, González was soon a Man City player and this move looked like it could provide the platform for further development.
A successor to Rodri? The youngster could turn out to be even better than his compatriot if he continues on this upwards trajectory.
Nico González and Manchester City is a match made in heaven
The Spaniard certainly matches Rodri’s incredible physicality and excellent positional awareness, but the 23-year-old does seem to offer more dynamism in the final third of the pitch than his teammate.
It is no secret that City have struggled against teams playing with a low block this season. Marmoush has been an excellent signing in this regard, netting seven goals in 18 games.
Having someone like Gonáalez, however, who is able to time runs to perfection and provide support to the likes of the Egyptian and Erling Haaland, gives Guardiola a massive boost.
Raised the La Masia way, he certainly knows how to control play while scanning for an opening.
In the Premier League for City, the former Barcelona starlet makes 6.39 progressive passes and 6.67 passes into the final third per 90. These statistics rank him in the top 12% and 4% for those respective metrics.
Rodri took a while to properly settle in at City, before emerging as one of the club’s key players during their treble winning 2022/23 campaign.
González looks the part when he has featured under Guardiola since arriving in Manchester.
The manager is set to welcome back Rodri to the first-team fold in the next few weeks and hopefully he returns to full fitness before the 2025/26 season.
In González, City have the perfect long-term heir to the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. That’s for certain.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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