When Rodri suffered a knee injury more than a year ago, fans were shocked. However, just as Martin Zubimendi is gradually filling Rodri's void in the national team, Nico Gonzalez is doing the same thing at the Etihad. This is also something that Pep Guardiola had predicted.
"He's like a mini Rodri. He is 23 years old, and that is true in one-on-one disputes. In other aspects, he is far different from Rodri, but in one-on-one disputes, it is really similar" - Guardiola analyzed after spending a lot of effort to recruit Nico Gonzalez from Porto with a contract release fee of 60 million Euros.
However, The Citizens fans expect the midfielder to demonstrate an attacking ability that he has not seen before at Estadio by Dragao. And his arrival is clearly a challenge for the club.
The FA Cup debut against Leyton Orient was a typical example, as Nico dropped the ball and forced Man City to chase him for the rest of the match. This is in complete contrast to the calmness and ball control he has shown this season.
"Nico is not Rodri. But he is improving," Guardiola praised after his recent performance against Liverpool.
Nico has certainly shined and become one of the key factors in Man City's overwhelming performance. He is the team's third-placed player in defense (6) and has won the most one-on-one challenges (6/8), second in accurate passes (50/57), and leading in touches (72).
"In addition to my imagination, I never thought I would improve so much with Guardiola. He is helping me become a much better player" - the Spaniard shared.
An excellent performance, completed with a goal in the first half's extra time, demonstrated the attacking power that helped Nico become a star at Porto. That power also helped Rodri bring Man City their first Champions League title.
"Thanks to him, we can wait patiently for Rodri, who will return when he is 100% fit. Nico is giving us the stability we lacked before," Guardiola commented.
Nico, for his part, responded quickly to all situations, showing his form in the number 5 position in a way he had never had at Barcelona. "He's young, but he's played with Rodri at his peak. He's not just a reserve player," Guardiola explained.
At this stage of the season, Nico has surpassed the total number of minutes played last season (1,525 compared to 951), starting 10 out of 16 matches participated so far. In fact, since the controversial handball that "destroyed" Man City in Monaco, he has been in the starting lineup for 7 out of 8 matches and played the full 90 minutes in the last 4 matches.
So what will Nico look like when Rodri returns? "They can play perfectly together," Guardiola said. It may be too late to see this combination on the pitch, but if it continues to be tightly managed, will Nico have the chance to join the Spanish squad for the 2026 World Cup?
"Of course I dream of the World Cup. I work hard every day to get there," said the Spaniard.
