Nolito

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Agudo and the second or maternal family name is Durán.
Nolito

Nolito in 2013
Personal information
Full name Manuel Agudo Durán[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-15) 15 October 1986
Place of birth Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 9
Youth career
1990–2000 Algaida
2000–2003 Sanluqueño
2003–2004 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Sanluqueño
2004–2006 Sanluqueño 32 (24[2])
2006–2008 Écija 71 (15)
2008–2011 Barcelona B 106 (29)
2010–2011 Barcelona 2 (0)
2011–2013 Benfica 35 (12)
2013 → Granada (loan) 17 (3)
2013–2016 Celta 100 (39)
2016– Manchester City 11 (3)
National team‡
2014– Spain 16 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2016

Manuel Agudo Durán (born 15 October 1986), known as Nolito (Spanish pronunciation: [noˈlito]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for Premier League club Manchester City.

Having begun his career at lower league clubs he signed for Barcelona in 2008, playing predominantly with its reserves. Three years later he moved to Benfica in Portugal, and was loaned back to Spain with Granada before joining Celta in 2013.

Nolito made his debut for the Spanish national team in November 2014, representing the nation at Euro 2016.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Andalusia, Nolito arrived at FC Barcelona at nearly 22 years of age, having appeared with Écija Balompié in his native region in two third division seasons. With the Catalans, in the same level, he scored 16 league goals in two seasons combined – 12 in the second – as the B-team returned to the second level after an 11-year absence; still as a youth, he briefly represented Valencia CF, but quickly returned to his first club Atlético Sanluqueño CF.[3]

On 3 October 2010, Nolito made his La Liga debut for Barcelona, coming on as a substitute for Pedro in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Mallorca.[4] On 10 November, he opened the scoring in a 5–1 home win against AD Ceuta for the campaign's Copa del Rey (7–1 on aggregate).[5]

Benfica

Nolito with Benfica in 2011

In late May 2011, Nolito rejected Barcelona's offer of a professional contract and instead signed a five-year deal with Portuguese side S.L. Benfica, effective as of 1 July.[6] He scored on his official debut on the 27th, a 2–0 home win against Trabzonspor for the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round.[7] He also netted in the second leg, a 1–1 draw.[8]

On 20 August 2011, Nolito scored once in a 3–1 home success against C.D. Feirense, making him alongside Eusébio the only player to score in his first five official matches for the club.[9] He netted 15 goals in 48 official games in his first season, helping the Eagles to the Taça da Liga.

Nolito returned to his country and his native region on 29 January 2013, being loaned to Granada CF for six months and a fee of €600,000, without the possibility of making the move permanent in June.[10][11] In his first match, four days after signing, he took the corner which resulted in Cristiano Ronaldo's own goal for the game's only goal, giving Granada its first win over Real Madrid in 40 years.[12][13]

Celta

Nolito talking to an assistant referee in 2015

On 1 July 2013, Nolito signed with Celta de Vigo, penning a four-year deal and reuniting with former Barcelona B boss Luis Enrique.[14] He finished his debut season as team top scorer, with 14.[15]

Nolito was named La Liga Player of the Month for September 2014, with four goals during a month which ended with Celta in sixth position.[16] He created 96 goalscoring opportunities over the campaign, the most in the Spanish league and fourth most in Europe's five leading leagues.[17]

On 23 September 2015, Nolito took his league tally to five after scoring once and providing two assists for Iago Aspas in a 4–1 home success over former club Barcelona.[18] He totalled three goals and an assist that month to help his team remain unbeaten, earning him a second Player of the Month accolade;[19] in mid-December, however, he suffered a hamstring injury against RCD Espanyol which sidelined him for two months.[20][21]

Nolito returned to action on 20 February 2016, featuring roughly 20 minutes in a 3–2 home win over SD Eibar.[22] In the following round, he scored the game's only goal at Getafe CF,[23] and his team eventually finished in sixth place.

Manchester City

Wikinews has related news: Footballers Neymar, Zlatan, Nolito sign contracts

On 1 July 2016, Nolito signed with Premier League side Manchester City on a four-year deal for a fee of £13.8 million.[24][25] He made his debut on 13 August, playing 59 minutes in a 2–1 home win against Sunderland.[26] Three days later he scored his first goal, and also provided an assist to Sergio Agüero in a 5–0 away routing of FC Steaua București for the Champions League play-off round.[27]

International career

Nolito did not gain a single cap for Spain at youth level. On 7 November 2014, he was called up by full side manager Vicente del Bosque for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus and a friendly with Germany.[28] He made his debut against the latter on the 18th, starting at his club ground of Balaídos in a 0–1 loss.[29]

On 17 May 2016, Nolito was named in the preliminary squad for the final tournament in France.[30] Twelve days later, in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he scored his first goals, striking twice in the first half of a 3–1 win in Switzerland.[31] he repeated the feat the following match, a 6–1 routing of South Korea in Austria.[32]

Selected for the squad of 23,[33] Nolito acted often as starter, scoring from close range in a 3–0 group stage success over Turkey at the Stade de Nice and also assisting Álvaro Morata for the opener.[34]

International goals

As of 9 October 2016 (Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Nolito goal)[35]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 May 2016 AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland7 Bosnia and Herzegovina1–03–1Friendly
2 2–0
3 1 June 2016Red Bull Arena, Salzburg, Austria8 South Korea3–06–1
4 5–0
5 17 June 2016Stade de Nice, Nice, France11 Turkey2–03–0UEFA Euro 2016
6 9 October 2016Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania15 Albania2–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Career statistics

Club

As of 29 November 2016[36]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Écija 2006–07 31253—365
2007–08 401300—4013
Total 711553—7618
Barcelona B 2008–09 284—284
2009–10 4012—4012
2010–11 3813—3813
Total 10629—10629
Barcelona 2010–11 20310051
Benfica 2011–12 2911711234815
2012–13 616030151
Total 35121311536316
Granada 2012–13 173—173
Celta 2013–14 351420—3714
2014–15 361310—3713
2015–16 291200—2912
Total 1003930—|10339
Manchester City 2016–17 1131052175
Career totals 342101255205387111

International

As of match played 15 November 2016[35]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain
201410
201540
2016116
Total166

Honours

Club

Barcelona[36]
Benfica[36]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Fíjate en... Nolito" [Have a look at... Nolito] (in Spanish). Geografía Fútbol. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Nolito, el gol callejero de España" [Nolito, Spain's street goal]. ABC (in Spanish). 13 November 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Nsue shocks Barca; ESPN Soccernet, 3 October 2010
  5. ↑ Barcelona 5–1 Ceuta; ESPN Soccernet, 10 November 2010
  6. ↑ Nolito confirma su fichaje por el Benfica (Nolito confirms deal with Benfica); Marca, 21 May 2011 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Benfica leave Trabzonspor up against it; UEFA.com, 27 July 2011
  8. ↑ Benfica ease past ten-man Trabzonspor; UEFA.com, 3 August 2011
  9. ↑ Nolito iguala Eusébio (Nolito equals Eusébio); Record, 21 August 2011 (Portuguese)
  10. ↑ "Nolito será rojiblanco hasta junio de 2013" [Nolito will be rojiblanco until June 2013] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Jesus confirma saída de Nolito" [Jesus confirms Nolito exit]. Sábado (in Portuguese). 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Granada 1–0 Real Madrid: Ronaldo own goal gifts Andalusians three precious points". Goal.com. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Result: Cristiano Ronaldo own goal gives Granada the win". Sportsmole. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Nolito refuerza la delantera del Real Club Celta" [Nolito strengthens Real Club Celta's offense] (in Spanish). Celta Vigo. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "La temporada de oro de Nolito" [Nolito's golden season]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 26 May 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Premios BBVA a los mejores de septiembre" [BBVA awards for the best in September] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Kevin de Bruyne: Manchester City sign Wolfsburg midfielder". BBC Sport. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Iago Aspas scores twice as Celta Vigo give Barcelona shock thrashing". The Guardian. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Nolito named Liga BBVA Player of the Month for September". Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "Preocupa la lesión de Nolito" [Nolito's injury is a concern]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 13 December 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nolito injury: Updates on Celta Vigo Star's hamstring and return". Bleacher Report. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "El Celta gana y se gusta en el regreso de Nolito" [Celta wins and enjoys itself in return of Nolito]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 21 February 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "El Getafe no puede con Nolito" [Getafe cannot handle Nolito]. El País (in Spanish). 27 February 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Nolito signs for Manchester City". Manchester City F.C. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "Nolito: Manchester City sign Spain forward on four-year deal". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  26. ↑ "Manchester City 2–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "City set fair to progress after Steaua stroll". UEFA.com. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Chelsea's Diego Costa left out of Spain squad to play Belarus and Germany". The Guardian. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Experimento pasado por agua" [Soggy experiment]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Euro 2016: Diego Costa, Juan Mata & Fernando Torres not in Spain squad". BBC Sport. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "Spain 3–1 Bosnia: Nolito fires La Roja to success". Goal.com. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  32. ↑ Jason Le Miere (1 June 2016). "VIDEO Spain 6–1 South Korea: Highlights from Salzburg friendly ahead of Euro 2016". International Business Times. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "Isco y Saúl fuera de la lista de Del Bosque para la Eurocopa 2016" [Isco and Saúl out of Del Bosque's list for 2016 European Championship]. El País (in Spanish). 31 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "Spain cruise past Turkey to advance to knockout stage". ESPN FC. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Nolito". European Football. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  36. 1 2 3 "Nolito". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
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