Pep Guardiola loves a midfield metronome. He's eulogised over Rodri in Manchester and before that Sergio Busquets in Barcelona. Now he has a new incarnation.
Nico Gonzalez's deadline day move to Manchester City may appear to some something of a panic buy and while the Blues would have preferred to do further business in the summer, the 23-year-old has been long admired at the Etihad and splashing £50million on his talent is no act of folly.
Indeed the 23-year-old looks a perfect fit for City and Guardiola. He is happy in a central midfield role while also possessing the ability to operate as more of a box to box footballer.
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Having come through the ranks at Barcelona, the Spaniard is confident and composed on the ball and progresses the play like few others in Europe. He made more than 30 appearances for the Catalan giants, often in the single pivot role that Mateo Kovacic has struggled in for City this season.
He's physical and strong in the tackle yet has an eye for goal and the creative capability to play further forward, as he did in his youth, if required. When you are breaking through at Camp Nou there is pressure, but Gonzalez earned the seal of approval of Busquets.
Speaking in 2022, the Spain legend said: "In the Barça style, my position is somewhat complicated to execute. There are no players with that profile now. But I think Nico González could be the best player for it."
That will have resonated with Guardiola, who gave Busquets his La Liga debut in 2008 having nurtured his talent in Barca's B team. The pair enjoyed huge success together and Busquets went on to win nine domestic titles and three Champions League in a glittering career.
"The impact Busquets had as a midfielder in the last 15, 20 years is enormous," said Guardiola in May 2023. "Busquets was the best, able to read everything that happens and anticipate situations. He didn’t move a lot, only in the centre, but he could solve any problem with his brain."
If Guardiola feels Busquets was a generational talent and Busquets felt Gonzalez was best placed to take on his mantle, then City have found themselves a player with huge potential. His time at Barca fell away under Xavi, moving to Valencia on loan before being sold to Porto 18 months ago. But the Spaniards inserted a buy back option into the deal as well as a significant sell-on clause, suggesting they were all to aware of his ability.
City and Guardiola will hope to be the beneficiaries. Busquets, now at Inter Miami, will be watching with interest.
