What Manchester City now plan to do after being told they’d have to pay £50m for Nico Gonzalez

Manchester City sources have confirmed to TBR Football that they have opened talks with Porto over a deal for midfielder Nico Gonzalez – who turned them down earlier in his career.

Manchester City have enjoyed a busy January so far, bringing in the likes of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov and spending more than £120million in the process.

However, as TBR Football has previously revealed, Man City are in the market for more in January with a covering midfielder and a full-back also in their sights.

They have held talks with Juventus over a possible deal for Douglas Luiz, but they have now made their move for Gonzalez.

Manchester City consider paying Nico Gonzalez £50million release clause

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can confirm that talks have taken place between City and Porto for Gonzalez.

However, at this point in the window, Porto are understood to have told City that they would need his release clause of €60million (around £50million) paying.

We are told it is something City are considering and Pep Guardiola has told the club’s hierarchy that he does want another midfielder this month.

In particular, Guardiola wants a midfielder capable playing in the CDM role, something they have never really overcome since Rodri’s injury.

Gonzalez can operate as a holding midfielder and standing at 6ft 2in, is not dissimilar in build to City’s injured midfield star Rodri.

Man City’s historical Gonzalez interest as comparison made with Barcelona legend

City actually have a historical interest in Gonzalez and almost signed him from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy when he was just 16.

“At the age of 16, I was able to go to Manchester City, but I have always wanted to succeed with Barca. And I don’t think it went wrong,” he previously told La Vanguardia.

Gonzalez progressed through the Barca system and played over 30 games in the first-team before joining Porto in for just £7million – although it is understood Barca possess a 40% sell-on clause.

Gonzalez – who is contracted to Porto to 2028 – is the son of former Spanish international and Deportivo La Coruna legend Fran.

Francisco Xavier Garcia Pimienta, the former manager of Barcelona B, sung Gonzalez’s praises in 2021.

“I am convinced that he will be an important player,” Garcia Pimienta told Goal.com. “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.”

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