Barcelona's La Masia youth academy is renowned worldwide for consistently producing outstanding young players, with the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Ansu Fati being the pride of the club. Due to the abundance of young talent at Barcelona and the intense competition within the team, the club often has to let go of some players, who then go on to prove themselves elsewhere, such as Olmo and Harvey Simons. Now, another former Barcelona player has stepped up to show his worth. Barcelona took a significant loss by releasing a top midfielder for just 8.4 million euros: scoring 6 goals and providing 5 assists in 25 games, becoming the core of his new team's championship bid.
In the early hours of December 29th, during the 16th round of the Portuguese League, Porto faced off against Boavista at home, winning 4-0 in a comfortable victory. Two young players who had left Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played a pivotal role in the match's outcome. Nico Gonzalez scored one goal and provided one assist, earning the highest rating of 8.4 for the game, while Omoregbe scored twice, earning an 8.2 rating, just behind Gonzalez. Additionally, Porto's 17-year-old youngster Mora contributed with one pass and one shot.
Gonzalez is a product of Barcelona's youth system but did not receive many opportunities at the club. He was once loaned to Valencia by Barcelona and officially left the club last summer to join Porto. Since arriving at Porto, Gonzalez has been given significant responsibility and has become the backbone of the midfield this season. So far this season, Gonzalez has played in 25 games for Porto, starting in 23 of them, contributing to a total of 11 goals (6 goals and 5 assists), making him the third-highest scorer and the most assisting player in the team.
Porto has recently achieved four consecutive victories and remained unbeaten in seven matches. Currently, Porto leads Benfica by 2 points and Sporting Portugal by 3 points after playing one more game, rising to the top of the Portuguese League table. Porto primarily plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gonzalez occupying one of the double pivot positions in midfield. Not only can he organize and link the team's offense, but he also contributes to goals by making forward runs and is crucial in defense, leading the team with 32 tackles in the Portuguese League this season.
If Gonzalez were to continue playing for Barcelona, he could compete for the position with Casado, offering stronger abilities than De Jong. Moreover, Gonzalez is still under 23 years old and holds a Spanish passport, making him a perfect fit for Barcelona's strategy of rejuvenation and team tactics. Unfortunately, when Xavi was coaching Barcelona, the club sold Gonzalez, and now the player is showcasing his abilities at Porto, attracting attention from major European league clubs. Given Gonzalez's rate of progress, there is a strong likelihood that by the end of this season, he will become a player valued at 50 million euros.