Pep Guardiola signing takes a dig at Man City players with 'huge egos'

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Former Manchester City winger Nolito has publicly called out the dressing room egos he encountered during his time at the club. The Spaniard joined City from Celta Vigo in July 2016 after the Blues activated his £13.8million release clause .

Then 29 years old, he signed a four-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, becoming one of newly-appointed manager Pep Guardiola 's first recruits. Nolito went on to feature in 19 Premier League games and 30 across all competitions during his first and only campaign with City, scoring four league goals as the team finished in third place.

However, he remained unsettled both on and off the field and left in the summer of 2017, moving to Sevilla before returning to Celta in 2020.

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Now 39 and retired, Nolito recently looked back on his year in England, recalling the hardships he faced. Speaking on El after de Post United podcast, he described what it was like to enter a City dressing room packed with top players and, apparently, egos .

Nolito revealed: "I remember it with a lot of stars and, above all, a lot of ego. There were players with huge egos. We'd all shower together and then each one would leave straight away. It wasn't a very friendly locker room.

"But anyway, I was always with the Spaniards, with Davis Silva or Jesus Navas, and we shared a lot in the locker room. But there were so many good players that I noticed a lot of ego. I saw many things but I'll keep that to myself. I think ego is a problem in society nowadays."

He went on to say he didn't get the opportunities he would have liked, adding: "At first, I started playing. I played a lot and then I played less. In the end, they're top squads and I had a lot of competition.

"I didn't adapt well because if I don't play... time... maybe the Premier League has a bit more pace. They let you play more, there aren't as many fouls. But I still prefer La Liga without a doubt.

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"Guardiola asked me what he asked me at Barcelona : to do what I knew how to do, to play football the way I had always played and to keep doing it. And then, tactically, he tried to correct the shortcomings I had. And I said, 'Whatever he tells me, I'm at his disposal.'"

Among City's key players that season were Nicolas Otamendi, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Gael Clichy, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.

Ilkay Gundogan had also just signed for the club, while youngsters John Stones and Gabriel Jesus were beginning to make their own mark.