The forward’s career stalled after his
Barcelona debut but he enjoys his journeyman status and wants another challenge
When Gai Assulin’s mentor and idol reunite at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as
Manchester City and
Paris Saint-Germain meet in the
Champions League, the man himself will be 10 miles away playing five-a-side with
Friends. The 30-year-old began his career under
Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, earning the nickname the “Israeli Messi”, but finds himself without a club.
Liverpool’s Thiago Alcântara has described Assulin as “the most talented player I’ve ever seen in La Masia”, the winger impressing in the B team as he helped Guardiola win his first title and the chance to replace Frank Rijkaard as head coach. Assulin was rewarded with a debut under Guardiola in the Copa del Rey but he did not make another first-team appearance before moving on a free transfer in 2010 to City, where he did not get a look in under Roberto Mancini, who had little interest in the club’s youngsters. The early pressure of being synonymous with
Lionel Messi was not a tag Assulin particularly enjoyed as he looked to come out of the Argentinian’s shadow.