Jules Kounde joined Barcelona on a five-year deal from Sevilla this summer but revealed in a recent interview with L’Equipe that he could have been a Manchester City player.
Pep Guardiola wasn’t short of defenders with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and John Stones at his disposal, but Kounde says City wanted a deal. The move only fell through as City failed to make space for him.
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Kounde revealed: “Yes, after my first season in Sevilla. It was very tempting (a move to Man City). But I had also specified that it was my first year and that there was no question of forcing anything. Yes (City tried again this year), but players had to leave the club first.”
City worked hard to balance the books this summer, selling Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko for £129.1m. They nearly sold Ake when Chelsea came knocking in July, but he didn’t want to leave. The decision meant Kounde wouldn’t be signed, so City had to pull out of the deal.
When an injury crisis struck their defence, City would eventually sign a fifth centre-back before the transfer window shut – Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund. He’s had a bright start to life at the Etihad too, so Guardiola won’t have any regrets.
In other news, Noel Whelan makes claim about Erling Haaland
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