Nico Gonzalez has admitted he sympathises with his former Manchester City teammates after the historic Premier League ruling.
News leaked 10 days ago that City had overwhelmingly lost their long-winded case with the top flight. An independent commission decided that they had broken 114 financial rules over a nine-season period.
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With the season paused for a three-week international break, one story in town has dominated the headlines. Man City appealed the verdict on Friday but, should they fail to overturn the outcome, all eyes will be on what punishment is delivered.
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‘It’s hard’ - Nico Gonzalez
Rival fans have called for titles to be stripped and potential Premier League expulsion given the severity of the breaches. Gonzalez left City to join Newcastle United in August and is torn on the issue.
“I mean, it's hard for me because I have mixed emotions, let's say,” he told Sky Sports. “I really want them to succeed, not only my old teammates, but people that work there.
“I had a year and a half there and I built so many connections and so many relationships and I will always wish them the best personally. But obviously, I'm just a player, I can't say this has to be the punishment or there has to be a punishment.
“So I just wish them personally, everyone that I've been around, the best. But the club, I don't know what to say because I'm not aware of everything. I'm just like (those on the) outside, so I can't say anything.”
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Nico Gonzalez wary of Man City case
Gonzalez - who won a Carabao Cup during his 18-month spell at the Etihad - also noted that he was wary of the case while playing for the club. He added: “I guess that's something that I've always, let's say, didn't like… not knowing what's going to happen in the future.
“So obviously, I feel bad for them and not only for them, some staff members, some people that work behind the scenes. I feel bad (for them too) because I think for everyone it must be a really hard situation.”
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