How Nico González Has Become Manchester City’s New Midfield Engine

When Manchester City spent £50 million on Nico González in February, many wondered if he was simply a short-term fix for an injured Rodri. He arrived with a nickname already attached, “Mini-Rodri”,  a label Pep Guardiola didn’t hesitate to repeat. But the truth is simple: Nico is no longer a copy; he is becoming his own story.

At first, his journey looked uncertain. He played just 37 minutes in City’s entire FA Cup run, sat out big league games, and even watched a Club World Cup campaign from the bench despite Rodri still recovering. For a moment, it felt like the spotlight had switched off before it even warmed up. But Nico didn’t complain. He listened, adapted, and waited for his moment.

Winning the Battles That Matter

Guardiola’s first impression says it all, “If there are 10 loose balls, he wins seven.” That one line captures why City signed him.

Raised at La Masia and shaped by his legendary father, Fran, Nico always had technique. But Pep loved something else even more: his presence. His ability to dominate duels, control a midfield storm, and stay calm when everyone else rushes.

As Rodri’s injuries continued into the new season, Nico stepped back into the spotlight, this time refusing to let it fade. He started nine of City’s last 12 matches and became the glue holding the midfield together. Only Haaland has arguably been more important in this period.

Against Bournemouth, Everton, Swansea, and Liverpool, Nico showed the same consistency Guardiola demands from his best players: progress the ball, protect the backline, and keep City ticking. In the 3–0 win over Liverpool, he even capped his performance with a goal (helped by a big deflection off Van Dijk, but they all count).

The Coachable One

Pep loves players who listen. And few listen like Nico. During the Carabao Cup tie at Huddersfield, the cameras caught Pep talking to him repeatedly, on the touchline, at full-time, and even walking off the pitch. Nico kept nodding, asking questions, absorbing every detail.

This is why Guardiola calls him “a gift for managers.” This is why he trusts him now. And this is why Nico is speeding through a process that took players like Grealish, Gvardiol, and even Rodri more than a year to master.

Living Up to the Shirt, Not the Nickname

Nico may never want the Rodri comparison, but it’s impossible to ignore how smoothly City now cope when their Ballon d’Or-winning anchor is absent. Only five times this season has Rodri played more than an hour, yet City remain strong.

That’s because Nico has become more than a backup, he is a solution. He plays with Busquets’ calmness, Rodri’s physicality, and Pep’s trust. And for Manchester City, that combination might just be the most important thing in their title chase.