Brahim Díaz has insisted he was happy at Manchester City, despite only managing 15 games for the club before leaving to join Real Madrid.
Díaz joined Manchester City back in 2014, signing for their youth team in a £314,000 deal from Málaga.
He spent the next three years working his way through City’s youth ranks, making 14 appearances for the Under 18s and UEFA U19 sides before starring at Under 23 level.
He managed 11 goals and ten assists for those in 33 games before finally stepping up to the City first team in January 2018.
Playing time for Manchester City’s first team was hard to come by, though, as he managed just 15 appearances and two goals in total.
He eventually left in a surprise move to Real Madrid in January of this year, with the Spanish giants paying £15m to take him away from the Etihad.
And reflecting on his career to date, Díaz has nothing but positive things to say about his time in Manchester.
“It was a big and important moment in my life,” he told AS.
“We all made a decision, but it was complicated because you left the team in your city. We were clear that we all had to go to Manchester.
“The first months were a bit difficult. At first, it was a bit cold.
“They asked me: what do you want to wear on the shirt? and I said: ‘Brahim’, but I saw the shirt and put Diaz, and they explained that there they wear the last names.
“(Manuel Pellegrini) was a very important person. In Malaga, he came to see my matches, and he had a lot to do with my arrival.
“I debuted before Swansea in the Capital One on September 21st. There it started all the way with City. I won a Premier and a Cup, so young; it’s not easy.
“Manchester City has been part of my growth, and I was very happy there.“
