Nolito claims Manchester City dressing room had “a lot of egos”

Nolito has opened up on his difficult spell at Manchester City, admitting the dressing room dynamic made his single season at the Etihad harder than expected.

The former Spain international joined City in 2016 as one of Pep Guardiola’s early signings. Despite a bright start, his influence faded quickly and he departed after just one campaign, later joining Sevilla before returning to Spain permanently.

Speaking on the El After de Post United podcast, as relayed by RMC Sport, Nolito suggested internal atmosphere played a role in his struggles.

“Some players had huge egos,” he said.

“We’d all take a shower and then everyone would leave immediately. It wasn’t a very close-knit locker room.”

He added that he largely stayed within a Spanish-speaking group during his time at the club.

“I was always with the Spanish guys, with Silva or Navas, and we shared a lot in the locker room. There were so many good players that I noticed there were a lot of egos. I saw a lot of things, but I prefer not to say anything.”

While he avoided naming individuals, the forward implied that the environment lacked collective cohesion.

It is worth noting that Manchester City were transitioning under Guardiola at the time, with major squad changes and tactical shifts occurring throughout that first season.

Nolito’s campaign began strongly but diminished after the winter period. He failed to start a Premier League match after December, with increased competition for places impacting his opportunities.

The arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January added further pressure in attacking positions.

“At the beginning, I played a lot, then less,” Nolito explained.

“Ultimately, these are top-level teams and the competition was tough. I didn’t adapt well.”

His struggles were also linked to personal adaptation challenges in England, something he has previously acknowledged publicly.

However, it remains difficult to separate individual form, tactical evolution and dressing room culture when assessing that season.

Nolito retired in 2023 after spells with Sevilla, Celta Vigo and UD Ibiza. His reflections provide insight into a transitional period at Manchester City under Guardiola. While the club went on to dominate domestically in subsequent years, his comments offer a reminder of the adjustment phase that preceded sustained success.

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