Featured Image Credit: Manchester City
Topics: Manchester City, Champions League, Rodri
Josh Lawless
Manchester City's newest signing Nico Gonzalez has made a special request that Rodri has already asked for - after just one game for the club.
With Rodri sidelined since September after suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal, City have been plagued with problems in midfield - with Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic struggling with the intensity in a number of games.
Although Pep Guardiola did attempt to find solutions with other alternatives but the club ultimately opted to pay £49.8 million to bring in defensive midfielder Gonzalez from Porto, making him the fourth and final major signing of the January transfer window after the additions of Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Vitor Reis.
The Barcelona youth product took on the No.14 shirt and made his debut in the FA Cup against League One Leyton Orient, lasting just 22 minutes and being replaced by Bernardo Silva after suffering an injury to his hip during the build-up to the shock opener from the hosts.
Having trained on Monday, Gonzalez is expected to be in contention for the crunch Champions League first leg clash with Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium and could give City some much-needed energy and control in midfield.
Gonzalez has only played 22 minutes for his new employers but it's emerged he has made a request about how he would like to be referred to.
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He has his first name, 'Nico', on the back of his shirt and according to commenator Mike Minay, he wishes to omit his surname entirely.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: "Quick one for the pronunciation lovers: Nico Gonzalez would like to be known as ‘Nico’ at Manchester City. NEEKO (rather than NIKKO)."
His request could also make things simpler as there is another player called Nico Gonzalez, an Argentine who plays for Juventus.
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Gonzalez's compatriot and new teammate Rodri took the very same step, as have legends like Raul Gonzalez and Xavi Hernandez.
Rodri was born Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante and though he has had his first name on the back of his shirt for Atletico Madrid, City and Spain, he prefers to go by his nickname.
Gonzalez has penned a four-and-a-half year deal and it's hoped that he could play alongside Rodri when the Ballon d'Or winner returns to action.
He has been stepping up his recovery and appears to be ahead of schedule, with City naming him in their Champions League squad.