Pep Guardiola has hailed new Manchester City signing Nico Gonzalez following his impressive Premier League debut this past weekend, going so far as to call him a “mini-Rodri”.
Very high praise indeed.
Blues feared that the recently secured Spanish footballer was already set for a period on the sidelines following a worrying injury incident on his short-lived debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, but the 23-year-old thankfully returned straight to the starting lineup in the 4-0 win over Newcastle.
Fellow newcomer Omar Marmoush was undoubtedly the star of the show, netting a first-half hattrick in front of the Eithad crowd, but manager Pep Guardiola was quick to heap the plaudits on Gonzalez in his post-match interview.
Quick to smile in response to the reporter’s comparing his impact and calming presence in the middle of the park to that of Rodri, Pep simply responded: “He is our mini-Rodri.”
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Insisting that it is a huge compliment to be mentioned in the same breath as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and Man City talisman in just your first league start, especially at such a young age too, Guardiola went on to add that his personality, pace and time in Portugal have done wonders for
Crediting his time at Barcelona’s La Masia Academy (‘The Farmhouse’ in English) as having obviously influenced his positional awareness and possession – the blueprint around which the Catalan coach’s teams have always been built – he said he believes the youngster has already “grown up a lot.”
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To it into context, not only was Gonzalez absolutely everywhere against Newcastle but he completed 98 of his 101 passes (97% completion rate) from just 112 touches, which included 14 into the final third, some positive progressive carrying; four recoveries, four successful ground duels and an interception.
Not a bad start to life for a player new to the country, the most competitive league in the world and what has proved to be the most crucial position on the pitch for City.
It’s no coincidence that the Quadruple-winners form has suffered in the wake of Rodri’s prolonged absence and though there have been signs of them getting back on track, replacing him and the impact he has on tempo and control has still evaded them.
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Well, perhaps until this weekend.
It’s too early to tell whether Nico Gonzalez really is a ‘mini-Rodri’ regen, as social media was quick to join in labelling him on Saturday, but if he proves to be even half the player for Pep as the Euro 2024 winner for the time being, you can expect results to keep improving.
Meanwhile, his senior counterpart is still most likely resigned to miss the rest of the current campaign following surgery on his ACL, though the club have shared some slim hope that he could return just before its conclusion.
City still have injury problems and defensive issues to deal with, in particular, having conceded more in all competitions already than they did in the entirety of last season and the year before, but the arrival of highly-rated Abdukodir Khusanov has definitely taken some pressure off.
What about you: which new face are you most excited by – Manchester’s ‘Egyptian Prince’, the young Uzbek defender or Pep’s new ‘mini-Rodri‘, Nico Gonzalez?
Ole Gunnar Solskjær says just three players have spoken to him since leaving Manchester United
Danny Jones
Club legend and ex-Manchester United player turned manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has revealed that just three of his former players have been in touch since leaving Old Trafford.
Solskjær was sacked from the role as Man United head coach back in November 2021 after having been given the job permanently following an impressive winning run as interim manager.
The practically perfect start back at the helm of the club – where he starred as the ‘super sub’ during his playing days – was followed by a big slump, and the final decision was ultimately made in the wake of a 4-1 loss to Watford.
However, the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’s’ popularity among the players and the fans alike was never in question, so it’s come as somewhat of a surprise to many fans that Solskjær has said only a specific trio of United players have got in touch with him since his dream job came to an end.
At least two of the names read out might not surprise fans, as not only was then-club captain Harry Maguire one of his first statement signings, but so was Bruno Fernandes, who now has the armband, and both have remained key players and leadership figures pretty much ever since.
Speaking to BBC Sport on the senior duo, Ole said, “For me, Harry has always been a leader and a fighter”, and never had any doubts about him deputising for him on the pitch, before going on to label both the centre-back and Bruno as “top human beings.”
As for the third, although Victor Lindelöf looks set to leave the club this summer, he’s actually been a long-serving squad member, having joined back in 2017 and been a seemingly popular figure around the dressing room, even if injury problems have sometimes hampered his minutes.
He also went on to discuss other matters regarding the club, including confessing that it’s “hard to watch” United amidst their present struggles, both under previous manager Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim – even with a potential Europa League trophy consolation on the cards.
The retired striker also stated that he found the decision to let midfielder Scott McTominay go more than surprising, especially given the incredible performances he’s put on display since moving to Serie A.
The annual Manchester Remembers Foundation charity football match has shut down
Danny Jones
The annual Manchester Remembers charity football match has been cancelled for 2025, and unfortunately, the wider Foundation has also shut downfor the foreseeable.
Set up back in 2020, the Manchester Remembers charity game was created to help raise funds for the families of those lost in the tragic 2017 Manchester Arena attack, raising nearly £200,000 in donations for multiple organisations.
It has been a truly treasured community event across Greater Manchester, welcoming thousands to the likes of Manchester City Academy Stadium and Oldham Athletic‘s Boundary Park, as well as spotlighting local musicians and notable figures volunteering their help for a deeply important cause.
However, the Foundation is now set to hang up its boots. Confirming the news over the bank holiday weekend, founders Aaron Lee and Paul Corrigan shared “a difficult statement to make and a decision not taken lightly.”
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) May 3, 2025
As explained in the lengthy and emotional post, it is with a “heavy heart” that this year’s charity match has now been officially cancelled, and tickets already purchased up to this point are now being refunded.
Having played a small part in helping spread awareness around the game and the Foundation since it began, we were gutted to learn of this sad news.
The 2025 MCR Remembers game was scheduled to take place this June at a new venue for the event, Bury FC’s home ground at Gigg Lane, but following what they have labelled “a lack of support” from Greater Manchester leaders and “influential people needed to carry the event forward.”
Lee – a former police officer turned firefighter who was one of the emergency responders on 22 May, 2017 – went on to share a follow-up video reflecting on the announcement.
As he puts in the piece to camera, he says that even if those who had been reached out to in recent times were to suddenly respond, that it is “sadly too late.”
Taking time to thank not only past sponsors, managers, ex-pros and celebrity players who have been part of the event in the past, but everyone who bought tickets to the event(s) over the past few years, stating simply: “We cant thank you enough.”
Lee, who was given both a Chief Fire Officers Commendation and British Citizen Award in 2024, went on to address those “so-called leaders and influential people” in a subsequent post, adding: “All we needed was a bit of help. But we were ignored. Thanks for the memories.”
Unsurprisingly, the comments on social media have been awash with messages of love, support and sadness upon learning of this year’s cancellation and the end of The Manchester Remembers Foundation after more than half a decade.
There is some hope, though, as he ends the video by saying, “Who knows if this is the end or not? […] I dare say we’ll be back at some point.” We can only keep our fingers crossed he’s right and the MCR Remembers charity game won’t be shut down for good.
Danny Jones -
17th February 2025 
