Nico Gonzalez has asked to leave La Liga giants Barcelona on loan as Wolves look to bring the talented midfielder to the Premier League, as reported by Sport.
La Masia graduate Nico has long been dubbed the second coming of Sergio Busquets in Catalonia. The only problem is, the original version is sticking around.
Busquets may be the wrong side of 30 these days. He might have lost a yard or two of pace. But there is certainly plenty of juice left in the tank. Barcelona, according to Sport, could even offer a man who started the Champions League final against Manchester United all the way back in 2009 a contract extension.
As such, Nico is under no illusions. He knows that, unless he leaves before September’s deadline, first-team opportunities will be few and far between 2022/23. The 20-year-old ball-player has reportedly informed Barca of his desire to leave, albeit only on loan.
Wolverhampton Wanderers could face competition from Gennaro Gattuso’s Valencia.
Wolves in talks to sign Nico Gonzalez from Barcelona
Nico’s agent, Jorge Mendes, wields plenty of influence at both Molineux and the Mestalla.
Nico would not be guaranteed first-team starts at Wolves of course. But his technical ability, excellent reading of the game and superb positional sense – hence that ‘new Busquets nickname’ – would give Bruno Lage some much needed competition for a now-35-year-old and increasingly injury-prone Joao Moutinho.
According to the Daily Mail, talks with Wolves are now underway.
“He will be better than Sergio (Busquets),” says former Barcelona youth boss Xavi Vilajoana of Nico.
A Spain U21 international, Nico played 27 La Liga games in 2021/22. But with Franck Kessie arriving, Miralem Pjanic returning and Frenkie de Jong sticking around (for now at least), you can hardly blame Nico for growing concerned about his first-team prospects.
“Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta settled in the first team at 23 or 24 years old. Nico is only 19,” adds Fran Artiga, a coach at the Blaugrana’s feted La Masia academy, in conversation with Goal.
“Very intelligent, and his physique is perfect. With him, we have the chance to build a spectacular footballer.”
Wolves have signed one La Liga star this week already, Goncalo Guedes arriving from Valencia. The Portugal international costs a cool £27 million.
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