Manchester City: In summer of big signings, £13.8m Nolito proving the best
In the few months Nolito has played for the Etihad, the Spaniard has made the most of it for Manchester City.
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In a market where purchases are in millions of pounds, thriftiness might not seem like a virtue. That may seem especially true for Manchester City, who rose to prominence thanks to the financial backing of Sheikh Mansour.
With the arrival of Pep Guardiola as manager, a slew of high profile signings followed: Ilkay Gundogan (£20 million), Leroy Sane (£37 million), Gabriel Jesus (£27 million) and John Stones (£47.5). Overall, City spent £180 million over the summer, according to the Sunday Mirror.
Among that massive lump of money was the £13.8 million shelled out for Nolito. The Spaniard had history with Guardiola at Barcelona, excelling on the B squad. With names like Pedro, David Villa and Lionel Messi, he didn’t figure much into the first team at the Camp Nou in those days, recording only 14 minutes.
Related Story: Manchester City profiles: Proven playmaker Nolito has ability to shine
Nolito then moved on: First Benfica; Granada; Sanluqueño. Eventually he settled at Celta Vigo, notching 39 goals in 103 appearances. The offers came. His former mentor Luis Enrique, who now had the reigns with the senior team with Barca, wanted him back. With Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi again playing in the same areas he would be, he chose Guardiola and City instead.
He’s making the most of his opportunity thus far. He’s scored 5 goals in all competitions for the Blues, including three in the domestic league. The most recent goal salvaged a point for City against Everton. He’s also shown a good chemistry with Sergio Aguero. Outside of a three-match suspension for a red card, an opportunistic finisher with a good motor, he’s been one of City’s most consistent players this campaign.
He’s also arguably been the best of the new signings. The likes of Marlos Moreno, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are away on loan. Germans Sane and Gundogan have recently returned from injury and are just settling in. The pricey Stones, though far from a defensive liability and a work in progress, hasn’t yet live up to his billing. It’s the now 30-year-old, £13.8 million Nolito who’s been the most impressive bargain in a blue kit.
It’s ironic: On a club known for marquee signings, the relatively cheap journeyman, who had to lose 22 pounds and pull himself up by his bootstraps to get where he is now, looks to be greatest among them.