Absence makes the heart grow fonder and never has that been more true than with the strange love affair between Manchester City fans and one bizarre Mark Hughes signing.
In the modern age, it’s near-inconceivable for fans not to know everything about a new Manchester City player.
It helps that Pep Guardiola has made a habit of adding some of the world’s best talent to his squad in recent years but fans are even able to grow familiar with South American starlets before they even join the club.
Thanks to social media, YouTube and the general 24/7 obsession with football transfers, every minute detail of a possible signing is readily available at the click of a button or scroll of a screen.
There needs only to be a sniff of speculation surrounding a player before countless highlight reels welcoming them to the club are uploaded.
But 15 years ago that wasn’t quite the case. There wasn’t readily available coverage of the global game and experts offering insights on the most obscure of players.
Back then your club could sign a player you’ve never heard of, forcing you to wait and see for yourself just how good they are.
But what happens if they never get on the pitch to show it?
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The curious case of Glauber Berti at Manchester City
The summer of 2009 was an exciting one for City fans as it was the first proper full transfer window as a newly minted force following the Abu Dhabi takeover.
The Blues had the cash and were looking to splash it. Boy did they. Well over £120m, when that was still a mind-boggling figure, was spent as Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott, Roque Santa Cruz, Kolo Toure and Gareth Barry were all recruited.
But it also saw the departure of a figure who had become a cult hero, one whose time was short yet left such a sweet impression.
The summer of 2008 was also a thrilling one as the out-of-nowhere takeover announced its arrival with a bang by signing Robinho from Real Madrid.
But the Samba star wasn’t the only Brazilian to arrive, as little-know centre-back Glauber Berti was brought in on an unassuming free transfer from Nuremberg.
In fact, even his signing was overshadowed as he came in on the same day as Pablo Zabaleta, who was afforded much more fanfare.
Yet, Glauber had enjoyed a stellar three seasons in Germany, making 60 appearances as a regular starter in the Bundesliga. He clearly wasn’t a bad player but he was never given a chance under Mark Hughes.
For a year he quietly sat on the bench, waiting for a substitution that never came. As the games ticked by, fans became more and more bemused. Who is this guy? Why doesn’t he play? Do we… actually really like him?
It turns out yes, they did. Despite never seeing him play, fans became attached to Glauber to the point he became a cult hero in the stands.
Supporters became desperate to see him finally get on the field but, despite their urging of the manager, he never did.
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Glauber’s six minutes of fame
20 times. 20 times Glauber had been named on the bench during the campaign and when the final day of the Premier League season came along it became 21.
City were leading Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in the closing stages of the game when Hughes finally made the change fans were begging for. With six minutes remaining, Glauber finally entered the fray.
The defender received a rousing reception as he took to the field. Every touch was cheered, a standing ovation was given when he took a throw-in.
Hughes said after the game: “He got a really great reception!
“I’ve not been able to give him the opportunities that maybe I would have liked, but I thought that today was a chance to do that.
“It was important to do it not only for the fans but also for the squad, because they were all keen that he got an opportunity to get on the field in a sky blue shirt. I must be going soft in my old age!”
The love from the City supporters made a lasting impression on Glauber, too. He told the MEN nearly 10 years later in 2019: “When I was on the side of the pitch the supporters were going crazy, it was funny but I really enjoyed it.
“I knew the fans liked me, I was so happy with this. The supporters started chanting ‘Berti, Berti’, it was so funny.
“That 10 minutes was wonderful as every time I touched the ball the fans cheered and chanted my name. I will never forget it.”
Glauber’s lack of action was not down to his ability or application. He always put in the work in training and earned compliments from his teammates.
“His level was really good, and he was a Brazilian international but sometimes there are seasons like this,” Vincent Kompany told the club’s website.
While Glauber himself explained: “Every training session I played it like a game. The guys were saying: ‘Glauber, you have potential, why don’t you play?’
“I just waited for my opportunity. It was a really difficult time because I expected to play, but I never stopped trying, I never gave up.
“I trained hard all the time to respect my teammates and fight for my opportunity.”
Yet, Glauber does not look back on the time with any sort of regret: “It was a remarkable time in my life and I always remember it with my friends and everybody who asks about my career.”
He may not have earned medals, or glory or even a full game on the pitch but Glauber did what any footballers hopes to do when they start their career: he became beloved to a fan base that will remember him forever.
