Samir Nasri has revealed how Pep Guardiola's bizzarre 'sex ban' helped the Spanish boss get the best out of superstars such as Lionel Messi.
In one of the stranger rules enforced by any football manager, Nasri claimed that Manchester City boss Guardiola told his first-team squad at the Etihad that any sexual activity must take place before midnight to ensure they all get enough sleep.
The France international only worked with Guardiola for a number of weeks during the 2016/17 pre-season schedule before heading out on loan to Sevilla, but he disclosed the tidbit of information in an interview with L'Equipe whilst on international duty with his national side.
Nasri said: "For him, his players' sexual activity must take place before midnight in order to get a good night sleep “ even if they are free tomorrow.
"He told us this is how he managed to get the best out of Messi and [Robert] Lewandowski, and for them to avoid the maximum number of muscular injuries."
Nasri was frozen out of the set-up at City after he returned to Manchester overweight, with Guardiola allegedly forcing the midfielder to take up a strict diet plan in a bid to get fit for the start of the new campaign.
Despite Nasri leaving the Premier League - albeit on a temporary basis - the 29-year-old revealed that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager had urged him to remain in England, even if he couldn't guarantee Nasri a regular starting place.
He continued: "Guardiola told me that I was a mess, he told me several times and even kicked me in the butt, literally. Guardiola told me with your qualities you should not be at Manchester City, you should be at Barcelona.
"We had some discussions, he wanted me to stay and play for him. I told him no, because he couldn't assure me a first team place, I wanted to play. He told me he thought I was making a mistake, but I still have a two-year contract."
Samir Nasri: "Guardiola told me with your qualities you should be at Barcelona." https://t.co/Bo9ev50i3D
Nasri also added that, such was Guardiola's meticulous planning ahead of every match, Manchester City's players were shown video clips of where they should be positionally on the pitch, as well as game-plans that they must follow to the letter in a bid to win games.
The former Arsenal star said: "With Guardiola, on the first day of training, you know how you should play, how to squeeze and also how to stand off the ball. The next day, you have videos for everything that you have to do.
"He will not bully you, but he will do everything to make you progress, to get you to know you how to position yourself and how to play. He's a picky person."
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