Analysing the Role Nolito Will Play at Manchester City

Manchester City are closing in on their second major transfer of the summer.

Having already lured Ilkay Gundogan to the club, Celta Vigo’s Nolito looks set to be the next player added to their squad for the coming season.

According to Daniel Taylor and Ed Aarons writing in the Guardian. A fee of around £13.8 million has been finalised, with a three-year contract already agreed.

Incoming City boss Pep Guardiola knows Nolito well, having given the winger his Barcelona debut back in 2010 when the pair worked alongside one another at the Camp Nou. Indeed, Barcelona were keen to re-sign him this summer—but it appears City have won the race to secure his signature.

Nolito enjoyed a fine 2015/16 season in La Liga, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further seven in 27 league matches, making him one of Spain’s most effective and creative players. In his three years at Celta, he has scored 39 league goals in 100 games, an impressive record for a wide man charged primarily with creating chances for others.

He is on international duty with Spain at the European Championship, where he has played a key role in La Roja’s group matches, scoring in their opening match of the tournament against Turkey. He has played for Spain 12 times, scoring five goals.

Some may see a deal for a 29-year-old as an odd move from Guardiola, given City’s need to bring the average age of their squad down—but with the dearth of world-class talent available this summer, the fee reportedly agreed for Nolito appears sensible business.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

"Looking at how the market is these days, although €18 million seems a lot of money, in the world of football it is only enough to buy one boot," Sergio Busquets said recently, as reported by Dermot Corrigan at ESPN. "As Gerard [Pique] has said, that is a good price for Nolito. He had a great season and he has a lot of football to give."

Celta Vigo enjoyed an excellent season, finishing sixth in La Liga and producing some impressive victories over the best sides in Spain.

They did so playing an attractive brand of football, one that saw them keep the ball and pass it with speed and intensity.

Guardiola wants to introduce a similar style at City and probably sees Nolito as the kind of player who can help the team’s transition in style.

Former City striker John Guidetti, now a team-mate of Nolito’s at Celta, believes his old club are getting a fine player. He told Dan O'Toole at the Guardian:

"

He is an amazing footballer. I played with him this year and for a striker to have someone like that playing on the wing for you, it is an absolute pleasure.

He just brings the ball into you and he has great delivery, you can just see it in the way he has performed at the Euros. I am pleased for him as well because this was a big, big time for him and this is a big opportunity for him. He deserves it.

We had a great year at Celta with the way we performed against the big teams, the way we beat Barcelona at home 4-1, the way we knocked Atletico Madrid out of the cup and things like this. We showed that we are a very good team.

The way we play football is very attractive. I think that helped him as well because then he got to see a lot of the ball. We keep a lot of possession, we want to play football and that’s the thing he likes.

So even though he played for Celta Vigo, who are not classed as a big team, he still got to see a lot of the ball and they gave him the game he needs to shine. So I think that was very supportive for him.

Eventually it [a big move] is going to come, if you are a good player eventually it will come to you.

"

Nolito tends to play on the left, often cutting in onto his favoured right foot to cause damage, but he is a player capable of operating across the pitch in support of a proper striker.

That versatility is likely to appeal to Guardiola, who prefers working with small squads of players comfortable playing a number of roles. There's little doubt his arrival would bring additional options to Guardiola's attack.

For Nolito, it's a huge move at this stage of his career. It would have been easy to sit tight at Celta, where he is comfortable and valued by the club's fans and directors, and see out his playing days. A move to a new country, in one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world, says much about his appetite for the game.

"

On Nolito. He is not a winger like Coman or Douglas Costa. Right footed who likes to play left and cut inside. Understands FCB/Pep style 1/2

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) June 22, 2016"

"

He'll score a dozen goals. 29yo. City (like other big clubs) are finding difficult to get top players, not many around or in the market 2/2

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) June 22, 2016"

Guardiola's transfer plans are beginning to take shape. With the Euros ongoing, it's a difficult time to secure major transfers, but City have made more progress than most in securing talent. Gundogan is potentially a fine signing, and it now seems a deal for Nolito is at the final stages.

Whether the club can make that one big-name, world-class signing most observers feel they need remains to be seen. With City profitable and set to benefit from the increased Premier League TV deal, they have the money in reserve to make a significant splash, should the right player become available.

VALERY HACHE/Getty Images

Right now, though, adding players well versed in the Guardiola style of play is important. City's football was too lethargic and laboured last season. Guardiola won't stand for a continuation and needs the right blend of attributes across his squad.

The signing of Nolito may not be enough to get the pulses of the City fans racing, but with his ability to create goals and his comfort operating in a side playing a possession-based style of football, he could prove to be a useful addition as Guardiola attempts to take City to the next level.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.