Official: Barcelona register Nico Gonzales as a first-team player

FC Barcelona have announced the incorporation of Nico Gonzales into the first team. The former B team player will now get a new first-team number after his promotion, reportedly the number 14.

The player arrived at the club at the age of 11 from Monaneros. Since catching the eye of scouts at a young age, his growth at La Masia has been phenomenal.

Just seven years into his training at the academy, Nico was an established player in the B team setup. His profile was thought to be similar to Sergio Busquets, but that impression took a big turn after his senior call-up.

At 188 cm, he stands as one of the tallest midfielders in the setup of a club famed for their short and agile players. He has used his height and physique to his advantage, and often provides Barcelona with a strong presence in the middle of the park.

He was initially called up by Ronald Koeman for preseason, where he scored a fabulous goal against Juventus. His goof performances were rewarded with an official debut against Real Sociedad in Barcelona’s league opener. Since then, there has been no turning back for Nico.

Nico has played 17 games for the club in La Liga, scoring twice and assisting on one occasion. He has quickly pushed away from the perception of his style suiting the defensive midfield, as he has excelled going forward.

With his promotion, the 20-year-old can now be fielded in the starting lineup without any worries about La Liga’s rule governing the number of academy players. Moreover, this will allow Xavi to provide more young talents with chances to excel.

With Nico now registered with the first team, all eyes turn to Gavi, whose renewal and promotion are in the final stages.