Girona defender Yan Couto has revealed how he was convinced he was joining Barcelona, before a phone call from Pep Guardiola convinced him to join Manchester City.
The defender has been speaking to Mundo Deportivo about his successes this season, which he is currently spending on loan at Girona.
They’ve proven to be the surprise package of the season in Europe, with 13 wins, two draws and one loss in 16 games this season seeing them sit two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and a further seven separating them from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in third and fourth.
Couto has been a big part of that, with him and fellow defender Miguel Gutiérrez shining on either flank or proving to be an impressive full-back duo.
It is undoubtedly Couto’s best period to date, having spent the last three years on various loans from Manchester City after signing for them from Coritiba in July 2020.
Things could have been very different for him, though, as he firmly believed he would be joining Barcelona rather than Manchester City.
“When I was champion with the Brazilian National Team, I visited Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barça,” he said.
“I was sure I was going to Barça, but Pep Guardiola called me, and things changed.”
