Nico Gonzalez admits difficulties of replicating Manchester City’s Rodri and midfielder’s ‘easy’ abilities | OneFootball

Manchester City have an ongoing development project in central midfield as Nico Gonzalez continues to learn from Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

The 23-year-old has deputised in the middle of the park for City at length this season as Rodri went back and forth with injuries that have derailed the latter from a smooth return to the pitch in the backdrop of a nine month ACL layoff.

Gonzalez was brought in from Porto in January 2025 as an emergence midfield reinforcement as City struggled to field a starting XI and Pep Guardiola was desperate for fresh blood after a grave injury crisis broke out in the first-team squad.

The Barcelona academy graduate has proven his worth in the senior ranks this term, filling in reliably for Rodri in the number six midfield position as Manchester City vie for silverware on multiple fronts to improve upon a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

Rodri is regarded by many as the best player in the world in his position, cementing his status as one of the all-time great midfielders after winning the coveted Ballon d’Or in 2024 – the first player in Manchester City history to win the honour.

While the 29-year-old has been in and out of the team this season, Gonzalez has stepped up in his compatriot’s position and in recent conversation with Sky Sports, the former Porto man opened up on the challenges of stepping in the shoes of a player of Rodri’s level.

“When he came back end of last season, especially in the (FIFA Club) World Cup, we had a lot of time to play, see, understand things he (Rodri) does. I’m trying to learn,” Gonzalez said.

“It’s not easy to learn those things because what he (Rodri) does looks so easy. Sometimes I say, ‘Oh that’s so easy, how can I not do it?!’. It’s not that easy, but I’m trying.”

Neither Rodri nor Gonzalez started in midfield for Manchester City on Tuesday night as goals from new signing Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki helped the Blues earn a crucial two goal advantage in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle ahead of the return leg in Manchester.

Though Rodri came on in the closing stages of the opening leg to help protect City’s lead, Gonzalez missed the trip to the north-east as Guardiola confirmed the midfielder was suffering from ‘an incredible knock’ that could rule him out of Saturday’s Manchester derby.

Rodri is expected to return to the starting XI at the weekend as Manchester City eye their first Premier League win of 2026, having been held to three consecutive draws by Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton in the first half of January.

Two cup wins in less than a week will boost confidence in the camp as City cannot afford more dropped points if they are to cut down Arsenal’s six point lead at the top of the Premier League and go on to lift a fifth league title in six seasons.