Man City eye Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez- sources
Posted Sunday, February 02, 2025 by ESPN
Manchester City are weighing up a move for FC Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez, sources have told ESPN.
City are still in the market for the midfielder despite already spending more than £120 million ($148.8m) on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the January transfer window.
They are also interested in Douglas Luiz, who could be allowed to leave Juventus on loan before Monday's deadline.
Gonzalez is also on City's shortlist, although they have not yet made formal contact with Porto, according to ESPN sources.
Nico Gonzalez scored for Porto in the last game of their Europa League league phase campaign.
The Spaniard's former club Barcelona would be owed a percentage of the transfer fee if the 23-year-old moves to the Etihad Stadium.
Gonzalez joined Barca's academy in 2013 and progressed to the first team before joining Porto in a deal worth €8.5m in 2023.
Barca confirmed at the time they had maintained an option to re-sign Gonzalez as well as percentage of any future transfer.
Sources told ESPN the option was fixed at €30m until the summer of 2025, while Barca would also be due 40% of any fee Porto receive.
The Portuguese side also have an option to purchase an additional 20% at any point, cutting Barca's cut on a possible transfer to 20%.
Gonzalez's dad, Fran, was also a professional footballer, most notably playing for Deportivo La Coruna, and he also spent time working as a coach at City.
While his dad was at City, when Gonzalez was 16, the Premier League side made an attempt to sign the midfielder from Barca.
"He had offers from abroad, very big offers, a lot of money, but his dream was to play for Barcelona," Fran told ESPN in 2022. "It's been a huge sacrifice, above all for his siblings, who didn't want to go to Barcelona [from A Coruna in 2013], but he fulfilled his dream [of playing for Barca]."
Pep Guardiola was asked at his news conference on Friday whether City could bring in more new players before the deadline.
"I don't know," he said. "Financially we were stable for the last season. Even right now with the investment we have done we have a big net profit for the last five seasons.
"Maybe in the future we will continue to do it because the club have moved financially really well over the last five years in terms of sales but also players who have helped us to win what we want."
Photos
More»Meet English television personality Aisleyne
Friday February 14 2025Kayla Simmons stuns in her latest bikini shoot
Friday February 14 2025Five from training: Ready to go back to Brighton
Friday February 14 2025
Your Say