Nolito wanted by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in £14m transfer
City boss and winger worked together during their time at Barcelona as move for outcast Victor Valdes is also lined up
PEP GUARDIOLA wants to make £14millon Spain star Nolito his next Manchester City signing.
The Celta Vigo winger was a member of Barca’s reserve team during the new Etihad chief’s first two years in charge at the Nou Camp.
Nolito, 29, was a surprise starter for the European champions in their 1-0 Euro 2016 win over the Czech Republic on Monday.
He quit Barca for Benfica in search of first-team action after winning a La Liga-Champions League double under Guardiola in 2010-11.
His superb form saw him return to Spain with Celta two years later.
A proposed return to Barca fell through last season and now it seems City are in pole position to land him as he has a get-out clause of around £14m.
Guardiola also wants to complete a shock raid for Manchester United outcast Victor Valdes.
Pep has talked to his former Barcelona keeper, who suffered a nightmare 18-month spell at United under Louis van Gaal.
The new City boss believes he can tempt Valdes back to Manchester so he can exact revenge on his former club and prove he was mistreated by Van Gaal.
A bitter fall-out with the United boss saw Valdes banned from training with the senior squad and he spent the last six months of his contract in Belgium with Standard Liege.
The ex-Spain international was a pillar of Barcelona’s super-team and a key player in Pep’s four glory-filled years at the Nou Camp.
Guardiola has huge affection for Valdes and would be willing to give him a chance to revive his career at the Etihad.
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The Catalan coach wants to increase competition between the sticks at City, where England No 1 Joe Hart was not seriously challenged by Willy Caballero.
There is also a twist as new United manager Jose Mourinho made the decision not to activate an option in the goalkeeper’s contract that would keep him at United for an extra season.
Valdes, 34, was considered among the top ten keepers on the planet during his 12 seasons at Barca.
The former Spain stopper decided to leave on a free and announced he was joining Monaco before the end of the 2013-4 season but tore his knee ligaments in a match against Celta Vigo.
It scuppered his free transfer to Monaco and he was without a club, trying to get back to fitness until Van Gaal came calling.
Valdes joined United in October 2014 in a bid to resurrect his career under LVG, who had also coached him at Barcelona.
But the two men fell out and their relationship never recovered.
Valdes joined Standard last winter on loan and is now available on a free.