14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

[youngbob]

I doubt City would say anything else. Telling everyone your players are for sale weakens your position.

But they haven't let the story linger either. They've immediately gone to Simon Bajkowksi and give him the line.

 

[Earlyriser]

As somebody has mentioned our ability to write off players after a very short time should be of concern. It indicates that our coaching system needs to be seriously questioned. Every player has a weakness which needs to be worked on and that is what coaching about. If we are signing players that our coaching staff believe are beyond redemption somebody needs to be carrying the can. I can only assume therefore there is a deeper issue at play within the Club.
If one looks at certain aspects of individual play ie Haaland still cannot head a ball properly, Doku does not know when to release a ball and Rico does not understand positioning and then at the team level our corners and dead balls are abysmal one wonders what training sessions are about

 

[blueparrot]

As somebody has mentioned our ability to write off players after a very short time should be of concern. It indicates that our coaching system needs to be seriously questioned. Every player has a weakness which needs to be worked on and that is what coaching about. If we are signing players that our coaching staff believe are beyond redemption somebody needs to be carrying the can. I can only assume therefore there is a deeper issue at play within the Club.
If one looks at certain aspects of individual play ie Haaland still cannot head a ball properly, Doku does not know when to release a ball and Rico does not understand positioning and then at the team level our corners and dead balls are abysmal one wonders what training sessions are about

It would indicate that if it was true. Probably not true so that's okay then.

 

[RayCTID]

The problem is “Who do you drop to add a second DM?” especially when you’re playing a counterattacking team.

When everyone is fit, we have the luxury of a high number of midfielders and attackers, and playing 2 central midfielders means either pulling your wingers back into midfield in a 4-4-2 (which is how we frequently played at the end of last season) or starting with a back 3 and stealing a defender to add a midfielder. This is why Pep liked the “step into midfield” defender so much. You get a 2 for 1 defender and it allows you to play the extra attacker.

He still brought on Gundogan despite having Gonzalez on the bench vs Al-Hial and Gundo supposedly being moved on. He was brought in to be Rodri's cover. That shows that Pep doesn't really trust him going forward. We do have to cut the squad.

 

[RayCTID]

As somebody has mentioned our ability to write off players after a very short time should be of concern. It indicates that our coaching system needs to be seriously questioned. Every player has a weakness which needs to be worked on and that is what coaching about. If we are signing players that our coaching staff believe are beyond redemption somebody needs to be carrying the can. I can only assume therefore there is a deeper issue at play within the Club.
If one looks at certain aspects of individual play ie Haaland still cannot head a ball properly, Doku does not know when to release a ball and Rico does not understand positioning and then at the team level our corners and dead balls are abysmal one wonders what training sessions are about

The recruitment team as well but we didn't sign Nico Gonzalez completely blind.

 

[JewelZee]

I don’t understand why people aren’t believing the rumours. We bought this geezer because we had a shit midfield and he still sat on the bench in the bigger games. A terrible recruitment decision

Was it tho? Based on what exactly? Pep's refusal to play him as an 8?

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

So were going to ship out Nico G and hold onto Gundo and Bernardo. Fucking ridiculous. Like pep said months back. Just give me my players back. Well he has them back now. So we can expect a line up of Ed Akanji Dias Ake Josko Rodri Bernardo Gundo Reijnders Phil Haaland. What about the future and bedding in new players? Or we holding off to give pep one last swansong with the boys and delaying our transition another year

 

[I'm With Stupid]

I don’t understand why people aren’t believing the rumours. We bought this geezer because we had a shit midfield and he still sat on the bench in the bigger games. A terrible recruitment decision

Presumably when we bought him, we thought he was better than Zubimendi too, who was available for the same release clause AFAIK.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

If you went to games or your dad or uncle's do you would understand how much the club has changed in the last couple of years . The stuff happening on the pitch and decisions off it = detached.

I've had a season ticket at City since the stadium opened, other than 5 years and 9 months of having a FBO i've barely missed a game at the ground.

Has the club changed in the stands? yes 100% yes.

But we are talking about on the pitch, at the best we've ever been.

If your unhappy about the club and off the pitch, do it on another post relating to that. Not about a player Jeez

 

[Blue2202]

Pep still favours the older guard over him. Even after we signed Gonzalez in January. You expected him to at least get more of a look in during the run in last season especially with Gundo struggling. It is not nonsense at all. He is 23 years old not an EDS prospect who is being gradually easedand isn't being fully utilised. Rodri despite his wobbly first season was still picked.

So by your logic we should be looking to sell Khusanov, Reis and Echeverri too then?

Thank god your absurd points of view have no bearing on what the club actually does.

 

[kanovic]

This needs to be investigated or higher up need to do something.. causally paying 50mill and players sit in the bench. What is going on with our recruitment

 

[rice10]

Well if the club are saying he isn’t for sale then someone had better tell pep so that he might give him some game time.

We can all debate whether we want him to stay or we want him to leave but at the end of the day our current manager is not playing him and is treating him in the way you would do if he was going to be sold.

 

[KDB4ever]

I feel sorry for the guy, with Rodri coming back and Reijnders joining, it would be difficult for him to get more game time. Plus he probably already understood that Pep would rather play washed Gundo and Bernado over him any day.

 

[JewelZee]

And yet he might be the worst of those 4 players, the first 2 definitely, I dont rate Kovacic but he's arguably better too.

Please don't quit your day job...

 

[super_city_si]

Not sure how it's farcical at all. It's a made-up transfer rumour that City have quickly shut down.

Is that good source? ie close to the club?

 

[Damanino]

was suspicious from the start. we didnt really want him imo. we were crying out for a DM signings, people for waiting for the window to open and maybe get one straightaway and then we went through the window only on deadline day to activate his clause with Porto. if he was plan A we could have done the same early January. we probably were looking at others maybe Ederson, Wharton (both too expensive I guess) etc, and then as last resort we went for him.

also we probably overpaid as he aint worth 50m, he is levels below than McAllister who cost less for dippers.

Pep doesnt rate him much when he can choose Kova, Bernardo, Rodri, Gundo or even Lewis.

this is just another Txiki special, he dropped off his great DoF record so badly since the treble win. he should have left when we won the treble imo.
and someone with new energy and hunger to come in and build a sick squad on top of what we had.

 

[youngbob]

Is that good source? ie close to the club?

Simon Bajkowski is kind of an approved City mouthpiece. Writes for the MEN, only tends to put word out when it's come to him from one of his contacts.

 

[domalino]

Personally I think it reflects very poorly on any club/manager to buy a player for £50m and sell him after 9 league starts so I’d consider it a pretty bad sign of our leadership, scouting and their relationship with Pep if he actually did leave.

 

[mattcity5]

It absolutely is though, gonzalez signed a 4 and a half year deal 5 months ago and you’re saying get rid in order to keep a near 35 year old.

1. Why would the player move when he’s likely on a contract better than anywhere else would offer him?

2. Why would the club decide to take a loss after 5 months on a player who’s not even had a fair chance?

3. There’s at least 9 or 10 we should be getting rid of before gonzalez, gundogan and kovacic included.

You’re talking absolute nonsense as per, and if he does leave it only further highlights the disconnect at the club at the moment.

Just as a response to the points. Possible answers.

1. To play.
2. To get money back to spend on someone better.
3. The squad is big and we need to remove a few players at least. We won't be able to get rid of players if teams don't want them - if someone wants Nico, he might end up going. It doesn't mean that others won't as well.

 

[Jwoody19]

Glad to hear it was all bullshit. This lad deserves a chance.