Following a big money move to Manchester City, a promising Nico Gonzalez debut awaits, as the Cityzens get ready to face Leyton Orient.
Gonzalez joins Pep Guardiola's side after impressing in the middle of the park for FC Porto. Now, all eyes are on his potential debut against Leyton in the FA Cup. Let's delve deeper below.
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What number will Nico Gonzalez wear for Man City?
Nico Gonzalez has been handed the number 14 shirt at Man City, following his £50million move from FC Porto on deadline day.
City's latest midfield signing donned the number 16 shirt in Portugal. However, he shares an interesting connection with the number 14, as the La Masia product made his full senior debut at Barcelona wearing the same number, back in 2021/22.
As far as City's history with the number is concerned, the shirt has been vacant since Aymeric Laporte's departure. The last City midfielder to pick the number 14 was Javi Garcia, who departed the Etihad in 2014.
Who will Nico Gonzalez play alongside on his Man City debut?
The Spaniard is capable of playing as a number six and number eight. In the long term, expect the technically proficient midfielder to play ahead of Rodri in Guardiola's system.
However, with Rodri sidelined, his City career should start as a defensive midfielder.
Guardiola has used the 4-2-3-1 formation in recent games, which should see the 23-year-old partner Mateo Kovacic in a double pivot on his City debut. A former Barcelona talent and an ex-Real Madrid star alongside each other in the same midfield should pave the way for an interesting viewing.
Nico Gonzalez Man City debut to end in victory?
City travel to London to face Leyton on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Despite limited time in training, expect Gonzalez to start as Guardiola is likely to rotate his lineup ahead of his side's big clash against Real Madrid next week.
City, who have scored at least three goals in three of their last five fixtures, are the expected winner of this game with a probability of 90.9%. This outing has all the ingredients to be a dream start for Gonzalez in the sky-blue colours.
