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What Pep Guardiola told Manchester City hierarchy that convinced them to sign Nico Gonzalez
TBR Football can exclusively confirm what Pep Guardiola told the Manchester City hierarchy that led to the club closing a deal for Nico Gonzalez.
Manchester City have been in talks with Porto over Gonzalez over the past few days and a deal has now been struck for the Spanish midfielder.
Man City’s latest talks about Gonzalez with Porto led to the Portuguese giants insisting that the Premier League champions must pay his £50million release clause to sign him.
TBR Football now has all the details involving the deal Man City struck with Porto to bring Gonzalez to the Etihad Stadium.
READ MORE: Omar Marmoush already knows which Man City player he wants to learn from after making £59m move
Pep Guardiola urged Manchester City to bring in new defensive midfielder ahead of Nico Gonzalez breakthrough
Manchester City sources have confirmed to TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey that they have agreed terms with Porto for Nico Gonzalez.
A normal £50million deal has been agreed, the same as his release clause, but it is not being triggered – this is a deal that will see payments staggered.
We are told that Gonzalez’s personal plea – which TBR Football exclusively revealed on Sunday – played a big part in Porto sanctioning the deal.
Sources have also informed us that Pep Guardiola emphasised to City’s hierarchy over the weekend that they needed another player capable of playing CDM – whether Rodri is fit or not.
Gonzalez has already agreed personal terms and is now due in Manchester for his medical, with Man City’s spending for this month now close to £200million.
Gonzalez is set to join Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in linking up with Man City this winter.
How Gonzalez has been tipped for stardom
Francisco Xavier Garcia Pimienta, the former manager of Barcelona B, sung Gonzalez’s praises in 2021 in after he came through La Masia.
“I am convinced that he will be an important player,” Garcia Pimienta told . “He will do well, because he has the Barca player profile.”
Fran Artiga, who coached Nico throughout his time at La Masia, added: “Xavi and Iniesta settled in the first team at 23 or 24 years old, while Nico is only 19.
“The only one who skipped all the learning processes has been Messi.
“He [Nico] is, though, technically very gifted, is very intelligent and his physique is perfect. With him, we have the chance to build a spectacular footballer.”