Manchester City took their time to sign a player they’d had their eye on for some time | OneFootball

It took until deadline day of the January transfer window but Manchester City finally signed a player they had held an interest in for some time. That player was Nico Gonzàlez. City signed the versatile midfielder from FC Porto to address the biggest need in their squad. Manchester City had long held an interest in Gonzalez since he burst onto the scene for Barcelona. But they eventually landed their man and City’s squad does have a more complete look to it after Gonzàlez’s arrival at the club.

It’s easy to see why Manchester City were interested in signing Nico Gonzàlez for so long. His game appears to be ideally suited to playing in a Pep Guardiola side. As a graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Gonzàlez possesses all of the technical and tactical ability necessary to play in Manchester City’s midfield. He reads space well and knows where to position himself both in and out of possession. Gonzàlez is also brilliant in possession, as he has a wide range of passing. Once he signed for FC Porto he took his game to another level. At Barcelona, he appeared to be a number 6. But at Porto, he further developed his game. He shone as a number 8 and has the attributes in his game to play as a number 10.

READ MORE: Official: Manchester City sign Nico Gonzàlez.

Speaking before his team’s FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient, Pep Guardiola explained that Manchester City have had an interest in signing Gonzàlez since he burst onto the scene at Barcelona: “We’ve followed him for ,a long time and I think when he was in the Barcelona academy we tried to bring him here. It was not possible. And at the end the situation that we have, that we were looking for many, many times since a few months, since Rodri was injured, he came. And especially for that all the players are so young, so they’re for the next six, seven years, so that’s why it’s nice for the club.”

Manchester City played the long game in regards to their interest in signing Nico Gonzàlez. Eventually that paid off as they signed the Spanish midfielder only a few days ago. The hope is that he can be the player that City have so desperately needed. Based on his pedigree, talent and potential there is every possibility that he will be. If Gonzàlez does become the player he has the potential to be at Manchester City it will be a credit to their scouting team for identifying him as a player so early and following that interest up when he became available.