In the wake of Sergio Busquets’ departure from Barcelona, the club has been on the hunt for a pivot midfielder to fill the void. Nico Gonzalez, a 21-year-old product of the La Masia youth setup, has been floated around as a potential in-house solution. Gonzalez, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021/22, is currently valued at €10 million. However, his future at Barcelona is far from certain.
Gonzalez’s last season was marked by a loan spell at Valencia, a move that was intended to provide him with more game time. Unfortunately, injuries hampered his progress, and he ended the season with only 18 league starts. Despite this setback, Gonzalez’s performances and attitude were well-received, and Valencia would be open to having him back.
However, the situation at Barcelona has changed. With the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan, competition for midfield positions has increased. Furthermore, manager Xavi Hernandez does not see Gonzalez fitting into the pivot role. This has led to reports that Gonzalez is open to another loan spell, especially with interest from La Liga clubs such as Real Betis and Valencia.
Real Betis, in particular, offers an appealing prospect for Gonzalez. The club’s participation in European football and the presence of former Barça technical secretary Ramon Planes as the sporting director could be attractive to the young midfielder.
Despite the uncertainty, Gonzalez’s ambition remains clear: he wishes to earn a place in the Barça first-team setup in the short to medium term. However, as things stand, there is not much space on the roster. A loan exit could be a viable option for the young midfielder to gain more experience and prove his worth.
It’s important to note that any move will ultimately depend on what Xavi decides to do with the 21-year-old. As of now, reports suggest that Gonzalez has not been included in Xavi’s plans for the season ahead. This leaves the young midfielder’s future hanging in the balance, with a potential loan move on the horizon.
