Barcelona director Mateu Alemany reportedly recommended that the club pass on a move for Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling during the January transfer window.
The England international was strongly linked with a move to Camp Nou towards the end of last year, but he has since worked his way back into Pep Guardiola's starting XI at the Etihad Stadium.
According to Sport, Alemany met with Sterling to discuss a possible switch to Camp Nou, but the Barcelona chief told the club to avoid the signing, as he believed that the attacker would take too long to adjust to a move to the Catalan side.
The La Liga giants instead signed Ferran Torres from Man City, while they are thought to be on the verge of bringing Adama Traore back to the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sterling has entered the final 18 months of his deal at the Etihad Stadium, but the Premier League champions are allegedly preparing to re-open contract discussions.
The 27-year-old has scored nine times and registered three assists in 27 appearances for Man City during the 2021-22 campaign, including seven goals and one assist in the Premier League.
Matt Law
