Denis Suarez believes he could have earned a regular role had he stayed at Manchester City, but has no regrets at having taken the decision to head for Barcelona in 2013 and take in “brutal” training sessions alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.
Those at the Etihad Stadium bought into the potential of a ball-playing midfielder when acquiring him from Celta Vigo in 2011.
Just two competitive appearances were taken in for City before heading home to link up with Barca.
A further switch to Villarreal was required before a first-team door opened at Camp Nou and Suarez was returned to Catalunya to form part of a star-studded squad.
Things have not played out as planned from that point, with a forgettable loan spell at Arsenal taken in before returning to Celta on a permanent basis, but the 26-year-old believes he made the right career calls.
Suarez told The Athletic: “I was at City for two years. They wanted me to renew but I preferred to go to Barcelona. Nobody knows what would have happened.