Pep Guardiola makes Nico Gonzalez prediction after huge Man City move

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Evening Standard

·7 February 2025

Pep Guardiola makes Nico Gonzalez prediction after huge Man City move

Spanish U21 international joins from Porto for around £60m

Pep Guardiola is confident new Manchester City signing Nico Gonzalez will help his side fill the gap without midfielder Rodri.

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Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who has been out since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in September, is included in City's squad for the Champions League's knockout stages despite being ruled out for the season by Guardiola.

"It's a position where we were weak after the absence from Rodri," Guardiola said about Gonzalez, who joined from Porto on Monday on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

"I know him from the Barcelona academy and his father was working here. I'm really pleased from the effort of the club to bring him here for the next years."

Last season's beaten finalists City visit third-tier Leyton Orient in an FA Cup fourth round clash on Saturday, and Guardiola said he expected a tough game.

"Always we've had problems away in this competition... away to teams in the Championship or League One or even League Two," he said.

"Always we struggle. But we are ready for the challenge. Every game is a new opportunity."