The big midfielder thrives in cramped areas, and City feel he can fix their midfield and save their season. While many clubs have kept a low profile in the January transfer window, Manchester City have treated it like the last chance to buy players. After downplaying the winter window, Pep Guardiola has been spending £130 million ($156m) on Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Omar Marmoush to save his team’s season.
Although City spent more than any other club in Europe, Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Arsenal showed that City still had a midfield hole. City have struggled to find a replacement No.6 since they believe Rodri, whose protracted absence following knee surgery has been the main cause of their poor season, will return to Guardiola’s team at the start of next season or sooner.
However, City’s horrific loss at the Emirates Stadium showed that they would need a backup for Rodri even when he recovers and that their existing players aren’t up to it. That’s why City made an ambitious and eye-catching late move to buy Nico Gonzalez from Porto for £50m ($62m) on Monday’s 11pm deadline.
Gonzalez is from a prominent football family and has played for three major clubs, but he is about to confront his biggest challenge: deputizing for the current Ballon d’Or winner for a City team in crisis.
