During the opening game of the 2021/22 La Liga campaign, Sergio Busquets trotted off the Camp Nou turf, replaced by young Nico Gonzalez. And it was impossible to ignore the feeling that this was something of a ‘baton-passing’ moment.
A symbolic transition from one glittering era to the next one.
If Pedri is Barcelona’s new Xavi, if Gavi is the second coming of Andres Iniesta, then Nico Gonzalez is the man destined to take Sergio Busquets’ place at the revving heart of Barcelona’s engine room.
“He will be better than Sergio,” says former Barcelona youth boss Xavi Vilajoana.
“Xavi and Iniesta settled in the first team at 23 or 24 years old, while Nico is only 19,” Fran Artiga, a coach at the Blaugrana’s feted La Masia academy, adds in conversation with Goal.
“He (Nico) is technically very gifted, is very intelligent and his physique is perfect. With him, we have the chance to build a spectacular footballer.”
Will Nico Gonzalez leave Barcelona for Wolves?
If there was one moment that summed up exactly why Nico has been tipped to take Busquets’ place once one of the 21st century’s most decorated footballers hangs up his boots, it came during September’s 3-0 La Liga victory over Levante at the Camp Nou.
Nico was sold short by a loose pass but reacted immediately, shrugging Nemanja Radoja off the ball, snatching back possession before spinning away and passing it on. It wasn’t the sort of moment that you’ll see in YouTube tutorials or end-of-season montages but it serves to epitomise the intelligence, awareness, strength and skill that had become synonymous with Nico throughout his rapid rise from the depths of the youth ranks to the fringe of the first-team.
“He looks tremendous. His father (Deportivo legend Fran) was one of the best players in the history of Galicia, but Nico can be better,” says Celta Vigo talisman and Galician hero Iago Aspas. “Seeing his performances, he is qualified to be with the (Spanish) national team.
Aspas rates Nico even higher than a man who followed in the footsteps in Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Erling Haaland by claiming the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2021.
“Pedri is a bit more complete but, out of the current young players, I would still choose Nico,” Aspas adds. He is the type of player who will shine even more in the future.”
Neves out, Nico in?
What the future holds for Nico, however, remains to be seen. Wolverhampton Wanderers are huge fans of the now-20-year-old playmaker. Wolves may demand that he is included in any deal that would see Ruben Neves swap Molineux for Catalunya (Sport).
Nico, interestingly, hired Jorge Mendes as his agent a couple of months ago.
The ball, then, falls into Barcelona’s court. Do they let one of their most talented academy graduates in years walk out the door with the more experienced Neves arriving in his place? Considering that head coach Xavi Hernandez has pledged to make La Masia central to Barca’s plans once again, it would be a surprise if he let Nico go without a fight.
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