Manchester City have beaten Spanish giants Barcelona to the signing of Nolito on a four-year deal after meeting his £13.9 million release clause.
The forward featured 29 times for Celta Vigo scoring 12 times whilst also racking up seven assists.
His new manager, Pep Guardiola, gave Nolito his debut for the Catalans in 2011 and it was reported that Barcelona wanted to bring the him back to the Nou Camp, but he chose City.
After making Spain’s Euro 2016 squad, he started every game and was a scorer in their 3-0 win over Turkey in the group stages.
Nolito becomes City’s third signing of summer following Ilkay Gundogan’s arrival for Borussia Dortmund and Australian Aaron Mooy from sister club Melbourne City.
Speaking on the move, Nolito is clear on his ambitions for City, “I hope to perform well when I get the chance to feature," and to also be "amongst the goals." Before finally adding that he hopes he "can score whenever" he "makes his debut" I make my debut, but, first and foremost, that City win the game.
After making his debut for Barcelona, he only featured twice before making the move west to join Portuguese giants Benfica. A loan move to Granada followed before joining Celta in 2013 and he made his debut at international level against in November 2014 against Germany.
Pep is starting to put his mark down on City and Nolito is full of praise for his new manager, “I’m very fortunate that it was he who handed me my debut at Barcelona," said Nolito, before adding that he knows "him a little" because "he was with him for a short while" whenever he got the winger to "train with the first team or included me in the playing squad."
Nolito concluded by saying, "I think that Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world," and that "He knows a lot about the game and he’s going to help me progress as a player and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me.”
Time will tell to see how Guardiola chooses to use his new signing, but with him being given the number nine shirt; he could be used as an out-and-out forward.