Sport

Pep Guardiola dubs Nico Gonzalez a ‘mini-Rodri’ after first Premier League appearance

Big words indeed.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 17th February 2025

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.

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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?

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You can see the match highlights down below:

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Featured Images — Werner100359/pantkiewicz (WikiCommons/Man City (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Sale Sharks sign highly-rated Harlequins hooker, Nathan Jibulu

Danny Jones Danny Jones Sale Sharks sign Harlequins hooker Nathan Jibulu

Sale Sharks are investing in youth with their latest bit of transfer business after signing one of the Harlequins’ hottest prospects, Nathan Jibulu.

The highly-rated hooker, who has already nine appearances this season, including more than half a dozen in the Gallagher Premiership, has been exciting plenty of scouts throughout rugby union and is already firmly in national team plans.

Having already been part of the England Under-20 and A squads, not to mention impressing at club level in a relatively short space of time, it’s a big coup for Sale.

From the Quins academy to the right side of Shark-infested waters.

Jibulu joined the Twickenham-based outfit back in 2022 just a year after they won their second English championship (a full decade since their first) after previously attending Seaford College and representing nearby Wimbledon Warriors.

However, now the six-foot and seriously strong forward will be swapping the life near the capital for the North and Greater Manchester, specifically.

Set to join Sale Sharks for the 2025/26 season – scheduled to kick off in September – he’s looking like a really strong addition to their front row and a future squads to come.

Speaking to the club in an official statement, he said: “When I was younger, whenever someone asked me, ‘what team would you want to play for?’ I’d always say Sale…

“I’ve scrummed a lot with Asher [Opoku-Fordjour] and I got to know him pretty well. I always tell him how special and different he is, and I can’t wait to play with him. 

“The way the club has developed him and nurtured him to become an established Premiership and England player speaks volumes about the coaching and the support that he’s getting at Sale.  

“The entire front row is in the England squad, with the Curry boys too, so that tells you that someone at the club is doing something right. I looked at that and I said, ‘why would you not want to be there?’”

Still just 22 years old and having made just as many appearances for his soon-to-be former club, Sale weren’t the only ones chasing his signature.

Jibulu went on to add: “I love those games where you go toe-to-toe physically, so all of that attracted me straight away, and then speaking to people who are there already, they said all the stuff that I really like so it was a no brainer when the opportunity came about.”

As for his impending coach, Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Nathan is really driven, he understands what he wants from his life and his career, and he knows how he’s going to get it. 

“He’s a young lad but he’s incredibly mature and he’s got the game and the physical attributes to match. I’ve got no doubt he’ll play for England in the future and we’re really excited to bring him to the club.”

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Currently sat seventh in the table after another at times promising but somewhat frustrating start to the year, the summer can’t come soon enough for Sale.

Meanwhile, over in RL, it’s been a historic few days for those in a Wigan postcode as the Betfred Super League got off to a tense and record-breaking start and the 2025 Six Nations are hotting up.

You can find the best places to watch it down below.

Where to watch the 2025 Six Nations in Manchester city centre

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Featured Images — Colin McLaughlin (via Wikimedia Commons)/Sale Sharks (via X)

Sport

The Women’s Run Series is coming to Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Women's Run Series Heaton Park

The Women’s Run Series has announced its second event and following what is already tipped to be a blockbuster debut in London, it’s coming to Greater Manchester.

Hosted by RunThrough – the UK’s largest and Europe’s fastest-growing running events company, which just held the first-ever MediaCityUK Half Marathon – the Women’s Run Series is aiming to break down barriers in female and ethnic minority participation, inspiring a diverse and vibrant running community.

Partnering with regional grassroots organisations, the event is not only a great outlet for local women to come together and enjoy the pure positivity of a race day (not to mention the obvious fitness benefits) but also to help nurture and elevate women’s sports through activity and the simple act of connection.

Taking place at Heaton Park this spring, the Women’s Run Series is looking like the start of something truly wonderful.

Credit: RunThrough (supplied)

The inaugural event of the new 2025 Women’s Run Series kicks off, rather fittingly on International Women’s Day: Saturday, 8 March.

Getting underway at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sporting complex in Stratford, hundreds of women are already signed up and is set to be a huge community event backed by local running clubs.

The first run is also a headline partnership with StoneX, a financial services company that has helped put a lot of support behind the series as a whole.

Once again, the series will provide a welcoming space for all women, regardless of background or experience, to thrive and inspire one another; this isn’t just about creating a female-only activation, it’s about physical and mental wellbeing.

Lucy Wood, Race Director for the event, said ahead of the sophomore event: “We’re so excited to bring the Women’s Run Series to Manchester in April.

“This event is all about creating a supportive, safe and inspiring space for women to run together. We can’t wait to see the Manchester running community come out and be part of it!”

Credit: Supplied

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Registration for the Women’s Run Series in Manchester on Sunday, 20 April is currently open, with both 5k and 10k distances available.

Heaton Park is hoping to empower women of all ages and abilities to join in the celebration and help mark a milestone for female running events.

You can sign up HERE.

If the turnout is anything like what we saw for the MediaCity Half, it’s going to be a stormer:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied (via RunThroughUK)

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