Manchester City made headlines on transfer deadline day by securing a deal with FC Porto for midfielder Nicolas González, marking a significant moment in the January transfer window as the Premier League champions registered the highest expenditure of the period.
In a dramatic last-minute move, Manchester City signed González after initial hesitation to meet the player’s release clause, which ultimately pushed the club to invest approximately €60 million.
Porto maintained a firm stance on their valuation, especially since a substantial portion of the payment would need to be redirected to González’s former club, Barcelona.
This financial obligation stems from a clause included in González’s contract, which stipulates that up to 40% of any transfer fee must be paid to Barcelona, reflecting the complexities often involved in high-stakes transfers.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the move, the 23-year-old midfielder stated, “This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career. I want to test myself in England, and there’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that.”
He praised the depth of talent within the squad, saying, “Look at the squad they have here. It’s unbelievable, full of world-class players. There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this set-up.”
González also conveyed his eagerness to work under the esteemed manager Pep Guardiola, saying, “I know the reputation Pep has, and I cannot wait to work with him. I am honoured he wants me to play in his team.”
He expressed palpable excitement about diving into his new role, stating, “I just want to meet my teammates, the staff here, and then I want to play in front of the City fans!”
With the addition of González, Manchester City’s total expenditure in the January transfer window has surged to approximately €210 million, following the previous signings of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov.