21-year-old Barcelona midfielder on the verge of signing for Porto

Nico González, who has been very close to a Barcelona exit, is about to finalise his move to Porto. The Dragons have been keen on securing the midfielder’s services, having set an agreement in place with Barcelona a few days ago.

The La Masia graduate was also reportedly seen working out in a gym at the Hotel Vila Foz in Portugal ahead of the move, and according to Mundo Deportivo, the deal is set to go through in a matter of hours.

Aside from Nico’s own approval, Barcelona and Porto were also working out the ins and outs regarding a repurchase option that the Catalans wished to include in the deal. All the final details now seem to have been ironed out.

The Portuguese side will reportedly pay between €8-10 million for the player, which would hand another important bit of income to the Barcelona books, which are steadily getting back into shape, as vice president Rafa Yuste explained earlier today.  

It could shape up to be a very good move for Nico himself, who was in a state of limbo regarding his future for a while. There are doubtless signs of potential; with Porto, he could also get a regular taste of European football.

In fact, with Porto in pot two for the 2023/24 Champions League campaign, Nico could cross paths with Barcelona immediately in the coming season.

While the exact length of the contract is yet to be disclosed, a regular starting role for the Spanish prospect with the Dragons could hugely help his development, and if he impresses, he could be back in the mix at Barcelona.

Competition in midfield this season is fierce in Xavi’s side, and with fixing finances taking utmost priority, Nico’s move could end up being highly-beneficial for all the parties in the short and long term.