Nolito perfect for Pep

Amid a clash of superstar names in the Manchester derby this weekend, the humble, hard-working Nolito could prove to be the difference. The summer signing is already thriving under his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, writes Peter Smith…

Nolito has hit the ground running at Manchester City. With two goals and an assist to his name from just 155 minutes of Premier League football, the Spaniard has proven to be the most effective forward in the country in the opening weeks of the season.

It should come as no surprise. The 29-year-old scored 25 goals and recorded 20 assists across the past two seasons with Celta Vigo before making his £14m switch to Manchester City. But more importantly, he’s also the perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Playing wide on the left, Nolito offers the blend of creativity and industry Guardiola looks for. It’s a style honed at Barcelona, where the forward spent three years working under the City boss and then-Barcelona B team coach Luis Enrique.

With the pace, incisiveness and trickery associated with players from that camp, Nolito successfully cut inside from his flank to strike twice at Stoke and teed up Raheem Sterling for City’s early opener against West Ham last time out. There was also a goal and an assist in the 5-0 destruction of Steaua Bucharest.

But all that has been achieved with hard work. Nolito was withdrawn with 15 minutes still to play against West Ham, but just three Manchester City players recorded more high-intensity …

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