Barcelona could be set to lose another youngster in Nicolas Gonzalez, with the starlet a target for current Premier League leaders Manchester City.
If reports from Spanish publication Marca are to be believed, Barcelona could be set to lose another enterprising youngster to another top European club. Manchester City are looking to prise Nicolas Gonzalez away from the La Liga outfit’s academy setup, which would be another blow to the La Masia.
A Spanish Under-16 star, Nicolas Gonzalez has emerged through the ranks at La Masia and is currently a part of Barcelona’s youth squad. The central midfielder is held in high regard within the setup and his performances for the youth squad justifies the same.
However, Barcelona could be set to lose the 16-year-old prodigy, with Manchester City interested in him. Several top European clubs have begun targeting Barcelona’s youth setup to bring in young talents for their own team by promising a much faster track to the first-team setup, case in point being Sergio Gomez’s move to Dortmund.
The young players also have valid reasons for seeking newer pastures. Barcelona have, in recent years, somewhat distanced themselves from their usual identity of bringing through young stars and integrating them into the first-team setup, which has seen a lot of young players become disillusioned with the prospect of playing senior football at Barcelona.
Nicolas Gonzalez’s contract at Barcelona is due to expire at the end of the season and Manchester City are looking to pounce on the opportunity. Pep Guardiola has had an earlier attempt rebuffed to bring the player over to the Etihad but could stand a wonderful chance this time around.
One of the main positives for City in their pursuit of Nicolas Gonzalez is the fact that the player’s father, Fran – a brilliant player in his time and an icon for Deportivo La Coruna – is now a part of the youth coaching setup at Manchester City, which could prove to be a major factor in convincing the 16-year-old to come to Etihad.
Indeed, the presence of his father will help him to adapt to the new surroundings way faster. Barcelona might be powerless in this case and it looks like a deal that is very much possible in the summer.
