Defender Yan Couto has told ESPN Brasil that an intervention from Pep Guardiola led to him turning down Barcelona in favour of a move to Manchester City at the 11th hour.
Couto, 17, was on the verge of joining Barca from Coritiba in January when Man City coach Guardiola phoned him and convinced him to change his mind.
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Sources told ESPN that City's financial package for the Brazilian right-back was also higher than Barca's, with the Premier League side paying an initial €6 million rising to €12m.