Swansea City fullback Angel Rangel has revealed he was wanted by new Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova.

The 29-year-old famously paid part of the transfer out of his own pocket to secure a move to South Wales and has been a key figure in the club's historic rise from League One to 11th in the Premier League.

Rangel told the South Wales Echo: "I was with Reus and he (Vilanova) wanted me to sign for Figueres.

"But I went to Girona instead because it was a bigger club at the time, although we ended up getting relegated. Two years later I spoke to him again and he asked me to sign for Terressa.

"I was impressed by what he said to me and agreed.

"I had already signed for Terressa when we had to play against them in the league at the end of the season.

"We did not have anything to play for but Terressa were going for promotion.

"I played, scored one and got an assist, and worked with him for a year. We had a great season there and I really enjoyed it but he left at the end of the season to go to Barcelona and I left to join Swansea."