The 21-year-old, currently on loan at Girona, has consistently been seen as a promising talent, and truth be told, he has proven himself in Spain.

Yet, the lingering question has always been whether Couto could ultimately excel at the Etihad Stadium.

Pedro Porro, another skilled right-back signed by Girona in 2017 before his transfer to City in 2019, found himself loaned out to Real Valladolid and Sporting CP before being sold to the latter in 2022.

Despite Porro’s evident talent, showcased in Portugal and later for Tottenham Hotspur, he fell short of meeting the standards for the Sky Blues.

Yan Couto expresses a “dream” to play under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, the Brazilian’s situation may differ from that of the Spurs defender, as a report in late January suggested he is seen as the long-term successor to Kyle Walker at City.

Wayne Rooney has disclosed that during Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United, the Dutch manager encouraged him to play in a manner reminiscent of Erling Haaland, even though Haaland was not yet a professional footballer at that time. Van Gaal’s strategic vision for Rooney involved greater involvement in build-up play, a concept Rooney discussed on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, Rooney expressed his desire to always be actively engaged in the game, even if it meant sacrificing more goal-scoring opportunities. Van Gaal, upon his arrival at Manchester United, emphasized a tactical shift for Rooney, wanting the center-forward to have 15 or 20 touches per game, similar to how Erling Haaland operates.

During Manchester City’s recent 1-0 victory against Brentford, Haaland had just 32 touches of the ball, as reported by Sofascore. Despite limited involvement, Haaland’s decisive touch resulted in the winning goal, highlighting the striker’s impact on the game.

In the podcast discussion, Jamie Carragher drew parallels between Van Gaal’s vision and Haaland’s playing style, to which Rooney concurred, noting that Haaland indeed operates with fewer touches, creating unpredictability for defenders. Rooney acknowledged the potential psychological impact on defenders, who may feel a false sense of security or heightened anxiety, knowing that Haaland could score at any moment.

Van Gaal’s strategic insight, urging Rooney to emulate Haaland’s playing style, aligns with the idea that a striker with minimal touches can significantly influence defenders’ mindset. The unpredictability and goal-scoring threat associated with players like Haaland create challenges for opposing defenses and open up opportunities for teammates to exploit.

Manuel Akanji received praise from Michael Brown for his outstanding performance in Manchester City’s Tuesday night victory over Brentford, a match where City closed the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just one point. Erling Haaland secured the only goal at the Etihad Stadium, marking his 17th Premier League goal of the season and achieving a unique feat by scoring against every Premier League opponent he has faced.

Speaking on City’s Matchday Live show on YouTube after the game, former City midfielder Michael Brown lauded Akanji’s contribution. Brown, who spoke with City presenter FG live from the Etihad Stadium, expressed satisfaction with City’s performance, highlighting their patience against a resolute Brentford side that defended with their entire team behind the ball for most of the game.

Despite Haaland’s decisive goal, Brown emphasized Akanji’s standout performance, naming him the man of the match. Akanji, usually playing in the middle or occasionally on the right, was a surprising starter at left-back. Brown acknowledged the difficulty of playing in that position, particularly stepping forward, and commended Akanji’s deserving recognition as the man of the match.

Akanji’s versatility shone through as he adapted seamlessly to the left-back role, showcasing comfort and excellence in his use of the ball. Beyond defensive contributions, he provided an attacking threat, with a notable long-range shot in the first half that tested the opposing goalkeeper, Mark Flekken. Brown noted Akanji’s ability to break the lines and contribute teasing balls into the box.

Despite City having solid left-back options in Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake, Akanji’s impressive performance demonstrated his ability to seamlessly slot into the left side, providing Pep Guardiola with valuable flexibility and depth in defensive positions.