Manchester City and player turned down move in summer – Thought it would ‘break sequence’

Back in July, it was reported in Brazil that Yan Couto wanted to leave Manchester City for good.

Not used by Pep Guardiola’s side since being signed in a €6m deal from Coritiba in 2020, the player was said to be tired of being loaned out and would seek more continuity with a long-term contract at a new club.

It was at that time that it was claimed Yan Couto was offered to Flamengo, even though there had been no reports on the Brazilian side’s talks with Manchester City back then.

Journalist Jorge Nicola now brings some news on this story, and claims that the Rio de Janeiro club actually tried to sign the fullback in the summer window. Their attempt was for a loan with an option to buy.

But both Yan Couto’s staff and Manchester City decided against it. That’s because they thought a spell in South America would ‘break his sequence’ in European football, and that would be harmful for his career at this stage.

The fullback then returned to Girona, where he’d already been loan to in the 2020/21 season. And Flamengo went for the signing of former Manchester United right-back Guillermo Varela.