Nico Gonzalez says he is ready to make Newcastle United's Premier League rivals "suffer" this season after quickly buying into Matthias Jaissle's plan on Tyneside.
The Spain Under-21 star is poised to make his top-flight debut at Spurs after being presented to 50,000 Geordies on Wednesday night before the Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion at St James' Park. The former FC Porto star and Pep Guardiola favourite is Jaissle's second signing after Amar Dedic arrived from Benfica.
Love at St James' Park
After playing against Newcastle last season, Gonzalez is fuelled up with the love shown to him as he was unveiled in midweek. He said: "Everybody knew at Man City how tough it is at St James' Park, the energy, intensity and the stadium. You want to play there, but you know it is going to be a lot of suffering!
"But I love that feeling, I feel like I want to enjoy my football, work hard and be at a team I can play in every week, I want to feel the passion and emotion. I want to be at a place I feel loved and want to give everything to Newcastle, it is the best for me now."
Filling the void
Newcastle fans are excited to see what the former Barcelona star can do in a black and white shirt, just weeks after Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were sold to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for a combined £175m. Gonzalez is ready to fill the void left by the engine room stars.
Asked what he can offer, the 24-year-old midfielder said: "I was raised in Barcelona at La Masia and I played with Pep Guardiola at City. I think I can be the boss with the ball, and I love playing and having the ball. I can help this team in both defending and attacking."
Jaissle's persuasion
Gonzalez was clear he was prepared to play for the club crest and for Jaissle, who made it clear he wanted him. The Spain Under-21 international said: "He (Jaissle) made me know I was really important for him during talks.
"I will be honest, this is my fifth team, but I have never experienced this before. Before I even trained I have never felt so much trust and confidence in me. That is really important for me. I was impressed, the first time I spoke to the club they really wanted me and appreciated me and wanted me here."
Gonzalez admitted he left Man City with a heavy heart in some ways after enjoying life in the North-West and helping the Citizens to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season. He told NUFC TV: "It was hard for me to leave because I felt at home. I had an amazing life there and I had an enjoyable year and a half there. But this was still the right thing for me to do."
