Newcastle United transfer chief Ross Wilson has revealed the £50million deal for Nico Gonzalez was ‘weeks’ in the making - and the ambitious move was the Magpies’ summer transfer priority.
Wilson has come under some scrutiny in recent weeks for not being able to secure a swift Sandro Tonali or Bruno Guimaraes replacement, particularly in terms of seniority and stature.
However, those fears were blown up in smoke as the smiling No.6 strode on to the pitch prior to the West Brom win - introduced to a packed out St James’ Park in true superstar fashion.
And fans are right to get excited about this deal. Maybe he’s not the type to get bums off seats, but he does the work to allow others to do that for you. We all know Pep Guardiola is no bad judge of a player - and his nickname for the 24-year-old was ‘Mini Rodri’.
‘Worked patiently on this transfer for weeks’
Speaking about the deal, Wilson says Gonzalez is everything the club were looking for this summer - and more.
“We’ve worked patiently on this transfer for a number of weeks. This was the one we wanted, and we’re delighted to welcome Nico to Newcastle United this evening,” he said.
“He was an ambitious target but following our discussions, he was so keen to join this club.
“He fits the exact criteria we set for this position and we weren’t prepared to compromise on that. He’s 24 years old, with an abundance of elite experience across Manchester City, FC Porto and Barcelona. He’s already already shown his quality in the Premier League and we’re sure there is more to come here in a black and white shirt.
“We believe he brings a range of qualities that will complement our team, and his experience across some of Europe’s top competitions will only be of benefit to Newcastle United.”
Spanish midfielder González, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, has joined on a long-term deal from Manchester City.
He will wear shirt number six and becomes the seventh senior addition to the squad this summer. The club hope for more, too, with a forward still on the agenda.
‘I love the black and white shirt already’
Gonzalez said: “I’m really happy to be here at this amazing club. I’ve only heard top words about the club and the city, so I’m really excited to live here and to be part of this project.
“I love the black and white shirt already and I can’t wait to start wearing it on the pitch for this club.
“I’ve experienced playing at St. James’ Park twice with Manchester City and it was really tough. The atmosphere was amazing and the fans are so passionate. I can’t wait to experience that as a home player.”
Newcastle United head coach, Matthias Jaissle, added: “I’m very happy to see Nico become a Newcastle United player. He brings serious quality and elite experience in a key area of the pitch.
“Nico is a really strong ball carrier - somebody who can drive the team forward while staying composed under pressure. He also brings discipline defensively, he reads the game well and his physicality makes him well suited to the Premier League.
“Nico is a proven winner who has already played at some huge clubs in Europe’s top leagues, but he’s also still young and hungry to develop further. He is a fantastic addition to our squad.”