Barcelona vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola, Yaya Toure and Claudio Bravo and nine other links between pair
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BARCELONA welcome Manchester City to the Nou Camp for the third time in four seasons.
The hosts have been crowned European champions on five occasions and have won their top flight 24 times.
While City won their first-ever Champions League knock-out match last season and have won the English top flight title just four times.
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City players wore matching outfits to travel to Spain — much like Barca did in the past. And the two have more in common than you think.
Aside from manager each boasting Pep Guardiola, Yaya Toure and Claudio Bravo at one time — here are nine more links you may not know about.
Mikel Arteta
NOW a coach at the Etihad, the former midfielder started his career at Barcelona.
However, Arteta failed to make the grade and never featured for the first team.
He was shipped out on loan to Paris Saint-Germain before joining Rangers in 2002.
Txiki Begiristain
CITY’S director of football came directly from the Nou Camp.
But before that, Begiristain was a decent player — and a part of Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’.
The winger won four league titles, was an unused sub for the 1992 European Cup final success and started the famous defeat to AC Milan in Athens two years laeter.
Rodolfo Borrell
SPANIARD is City’s global technical director, who worked in the same capacity at the Nou Camp.
Borrell was brought to Liverpool by Rafa Benitez in 2009 — and has an impressive record.
He is credited with developing the likes of Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and later Raheem Sterling.
Lorenzo Buenaventura
SHARES his named with the American film producer, whose best work includes the Transformers series.
But this Lorenzo Buenaventura’s loyalty is to Guardiola rather than Hollywood.
The fitness coach worked under the Spanish boss at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now at City.
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Manuel Estiarte
ONE of Spain’s all-time greatest water polo players.
Estiarte played 578 times for the national team and won silver and gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games respectively.
He is a close personal friend and long-time assistant who followed him from Barca to Bayern and is now head of player support and protocol at the Etihad.
Nolito
MOVED to the Etihad in the summer ahead of Barcelona — but that’s not all.
Nolito actually played under Guardiola at the Nou Camp.
He made two appearances in the 2010-11 season and claimed a La Liga medal.
Carles Planchart
GUARDIOLA’S secret weapon.
Planchart is City’s scout and video analyst who has worked with the Spaniard since 2007.
Is believed to show incredible attention to detail.
Ferran Soriano
CITY’S Chief Executive is a former Vice-President at Barcelona.
Soriano also holds the role at sister clubs, New York City FC and Melbourne City FC.
Has courted controversy in the past and was accused by former Barca president, Sandro Rosell, of “spying” during their time together at Nou Camp.
Domenec Torrent
GUARDIOLA’S trusted assistant, who has been with him since his days as Barcelona B boss.
Torrent managed Girona and his grandfather played for the Catalans.
He is the only member of staff other than Guardiola authorised to give team talks.