Barcelona defender Jules Kounde admits Pep Guardiola tried to sign him for Manchester City last year.

Kounde left Sevilla for Barca over the summer.

And he recalled a call from Guardiola the previous summer transfer window: "He called me. He told me he loved me and that he believed I would fit in with the way he played."

Kounde says Barca coach Xavi did the same at the end of last season.

He also told El Pais: "I talked a lot about football with both of them. I realised that both of them had seen me play and knew my abilities perfectly.

"They weren't just talking: they were very precise conversations."

Kounde also reaffirmed hopes to eventually play at centre-half for Barca.

He added: "I am never going to refuse to play I don't look bad, but in my formative stage I have always been central and I consider that it is the position in which I have many more concepts."