Many people enjoy comparing Nico González to Rodri, Nico has, however, played down talk of being a direct replacement for Ballon d’Or winner, insisting he is focused on developing his own identity in Pep Guardiola’s system.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, who joined City from Porto in January, is expected to continue in the holding midfield role when the European champions face Villarreal in Tuesday’s Champions League group stage encounter.
With Rodri sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained before the international break, González has been tasked with anchoring the team’s midfield in his absence.
It’s certain that supporters will keep comparing Nico González to Rodri, given the position they share, but 23-year-old is keen to make it clear that he does not view himself as a like-for-like substitute for the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder.
“I don’t look at news,” González said during Monday’s pre-match press conference at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about. He is a teammate. It’s important for the team he makes us play so good, but I don’t see any comparison or pay much attention to those things.”
Rodri, who missed most of last season following knee surgery, has endured another frustrating spell on the sidelines. Yet his presence continues to be felt, with González revealing that the experienced Spaniard remains an active influence behind the scenes.
“I try to listen and learn a lot from him,” González explained according to ESPN. “For example, the last game, at halftime he gave me some advice about what he saw because he knows a lot what to do in that position. He’s one of the captains and that’s a really important role. He tries to advise us and make us understand the way we want to play.”
While González acknowledges Rodri’s importance, he prefers to take inspiration from another iconic Spanish midfielder — Sergio Busquets, his former Barcelona teammate and a player he considers his biggest influence.
“In Barcelona, when I was young, I watched Busquets,” he said. “When I reached the first team I played with him and learned a lot from him. Maybe he’s the player I’ve learned the most from.”
Guardiola backs González’s growth as at Man City
Pep Guardiola believes González is adapting impressively to life at Manchester City and has the potential to grow significantly in the coming seasons.
The City manager praised the young midfielder’s attitude and work ethic, noting how challenging it can be to transition into a system as complex as City’s.
Guardiola, however, remains confident that González’s exposure to Rodri and other senior figures in the squad will accelerate his progress.
“Hopefully Rodri will be back to train more often with him, right?” Guardiola said. “But when he’s young, of course, a player of the stature of Rodri always improves them.
“Regarding Nico, I have the feeling that he’s getting better and better. It’s not easy sometimes arriving at a new club and playing a different style than he played in the past, but we are really pleased with his behaviour and I’m pretty sure he will be better month by month, year by year.”
Rodri has travelled with the team to Villarreal despite not being fit to play. The match holds special significance for him, as it was at Villarreal where he began his professional career before moving on to Atlético Madrid and later Manchester City in 2019.
His former club, now managed by Marcelino García Toral, have fond memories of the midfielder’s early years. Marcelino expressed disappointment that the home fans would not get the chance to see Rodri in action on his return.
“It’s a shame he’s not playing,” said the Villarreal coach. “He’s the best player in the world in his position. I’m sure he would have loved to play here and Villarreal fans would have loved to see him. He is admired and loved here.”
González, meanwhile, sees this as another opportunity to strengthen his place in Guardiola’s plans. His arrival in Manchester was initially met with questions about how quickly he could adjust from Porto’s more direct style to City’s possession-heavy approach.
But in recent appearances, he has shown growing composure, positional intelligence, and a willingness to shoulder responsibility.
His partnership with the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva in midfield has offered Guardiola tactical flexibility, even as the team copes with Rodri’s absence.
- Nico Gonzalez reveals ‘special’ future plan at Manchester City
- Manchester City in talks to sign Barcelona defender in January – report
With City looking to maintain their unbeaten start in Europe, González’s performance at Villarreal could play a key role in ensuring continuity in the team’s rhythm.
Although the former Porto man insists he is not trying to mimic his teammates, it’s understandable why people are comparing Nico González to Rodri.
Both are Spanish, both are tactically astute, and both occupy one of the most demanding roles in Guardiola’s system — the deep-lying midfielder responsible for dictating tempo and shielding the defence.
Yet, as the young midfielder continues to refine his style, he is determined to carve his own path rather than live in another player’s shadow.
