Man City have a secret weapon we haven't even (properly) seen yet

Let's not beat around the bush. Manchester City's start to the season has been underwhelming at best.

A 4-0 thumping of Wolves at Molineux on the opening day suggested City might be back on track. Summer signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki took centre stage, shining and scoring on their City debuts. John Stones returned to the team for the first time since February, Oscar Bobb looked like his pre-leg fracture self, and Erling Haaland found the net. 

Pep Guardiola's men looked fluid and were clinical in front of goal. Their performance summed up precisely what was missing last season. With Rodri and Phil Foden's returns on the horizon too, many claimed 'City are back,' leaving opposition fans bracing for what was to come.

City's first home game of the season saw the Blues take on Thomas Frank's new-look Tottenham Hotspur. Frank, a manager City have historically struggled against, and Spurs, a side many City fans label as a 'bogey team.' City were back! At least, so we thought.

Full-time. Spurs 2-0 winners. Out-fought at times, missing chances, and looking vulnerable at the back summed up the Blues' return to the Etihad Stadium. The last half-hour on the South Coast in City's 2-1 defeat to Brighton told a similar story.

Influence on the pitch

Amid all the early-season turbulence, one player has quietly been impressing… Nico Gonzalez. The Spaniard has gone under the radar with his tidy performances.

Nico has been quietly making a case for himself as one of City's most influential and underrated performers so far this season. By game week three, Nico topped the charts for ground duels won in the Premier League, with 15. He's dominating the air too, winning two-thirds of his aerial duels.

On the ball, the 23-year-old is showing signs he could one day assume the role of City's metronome, averaging 92% pass accuracy per game. Despite playing as a conventional lone defensive midfielder, the La Masia graduate has also shown glimpses of his attacking ability, averaging 2.5 successful dribbles per game.

Nico isn't just plugging gaps in midfield - he's actively shaping how City play.

Nico, the attacking midfielder?

Late last season, Nico gave City fans a glimpse of his ability in the final third with his composed breakaway goal against Bournemouth. That goal was not just a one-off.

At his former club, FC Porto, Nico occasionally operated as a more advanced midfielder, either as a balanced number eight or even as a number ten. With Foden, Cherki, Silva, and Reijnders in the squad, it is unlikely we'll ever see Nico as an out-and-out attacking midfielder at City.

That said, we have seen him in a more advanced role, as in the Bournemouth game. Though it is a small sample, he performed impressively. Now, Rodri is back and straight into the team. A player doesn't win the Ballon d'Or and does not start when fit. So Nico's best bet for consistent minutes is forming a partnership alongside the 29-year-old.

City's No.16 can be the linchpin we know and love. Nico? Box-to-box.

In a double pivot, the pair could thrive. The physicality and defensive nous of a Nico and Rodri partnership could compensate for City's shaky defending, which has been evident in the last two games.

In front of the duo, Reijnders could operate as the most advanced midfielder, allowing the Dutchman to create havoc similar to what he did on the opening day. Additionally, City's summer signing could replicate his goalscoring form from the best campaign of his club career, which was last season at AC Milan.

Versatility is a superpower

Nico's versatility is another asset. Whether Pep needs him deeper to control the game, as a link between defence and attack, or slightly higher to support the front line, Nico can adapt.

That flexibility is vital in a squad with Premier League and Champions League ambitions, where tactical tweaks and rotations are key. Perhaps most importantly, Nico still has plenty of room to grow. At 23, he's already showing glimpses of brilliance, but his potential suggests he could be central to City's midfield identity for years to come.

Already this season, he's one of the standout performers. If he continues on this trajectory, fans will see him move from "quietly impressive" to indispensable.

Nico is the answer!

In a squad brimming with stars, the Portuguese ace is quietly staking his claim. From breaking up play, threading passes, to driving forward and linking up with City's attackers, he is shaping up to be a valuable component of Pep's side. For City fans looking beyond the usual headlines, Nico is the secret weapon that could define this 2025/26 season—and perhaps many more to come.

If City are to turn their season around, the key may well lie in their midfield balance and Nico could be central to that. Pairing him with Rodri in a double pivot not only maximises their complementary strengths but also frees up players like Tijjani Reijnders to operate further up the pitch.

In many ways, Nico embodies what City need right now: reliability, versatility, and an ability to influence games without always stealing the headlines.

For fans scanning the squad for the next unsung hero, Nico is already staking his claim and this season, he might just become impossible to ignore. If City are to chase more major honours, Nico might just prove to be the hidden gem who makes the difference for Manchester City