Last year, there were talks of Barcelona’s emerging talent, Pablo Maffeo, potentially moving to Manchester City. Maffeo, hailing from Catalonia, had been loaned to Girona FC from Manchester City for a three-season stint. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in Girona’s remarkable journey from the fifth tier to the pinnacle of Spanish football.
His invaluable experience with Girona undoubtedly caught the attention of Manchester City, leading to discussions about a possible transfer. However, despite the close negotiations, the transfer ultimately fell through, leaving Maffeo to continue his development elsewhere.
As Barcelona gears up for the highly anticipated Catalan Derby against Girona tonight, all eyes will be on Pau Cubarsi, a rising star in the team’s defense.
Cubarsi, a young talent who has rapidly emerged this year, began his football journey in the Girona youth system before making the move to La Masia in 2018.
Interestingly, Cubarsi’s career could have taken a different turn, with reports from the Barça Reservat podcast (cited by SPORT) suggesting that Manchester City was also in the picture.
According to the podcast, Girona approached Cubarsi last year, even before he made significant strides in the Barcelona first team.
At that time, Cubarsi was honing his skills in the Barça youth setup when Girona came knocking, offering him a chance to join their senior squad.
Moreover, Girona’s connection with Manchester City, both owned by the same entity, provided an indirect pathway for Cubarsi to potentially land at the Premier League club.
Despite the enticing prospect, Cubarsi firmly declined Girona’s offer, opting to remain loyal to Barcelona.
Confident in his ability to make an impact at Barça, Cubarsi turned down the opportunity to potentially move to Manchester City in the future.
His decision has proven to be astute, as Cubarsi, at just 17 years old, has already become a linchpin in Barcelona’s defense.
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