Manchester City loanee Samir Nasri says that Pep Guardiola's ban on sex before midnight helped top Barcelona players like Lionel Messi to avoid injuries.

Nasri, who joined Sevilla on a season long-loan from City on transfer deadline day, says that according to Guardiola a few players at Barcelona benefitted from rules which are now in force at the Etihad.

"[Sexual] Relations must be before midnight. Even if you have a free day the following day," Nasri told L'Equipe du Soir. "He told us this is how he managed to get the best out of [Lionel] Messi and [Robert] Lewandowski, and for them to avoid the maximum number of muscular injuries. It's so you can get a good night's sleep."

The former France midfielder also revealed that he was called a "waste" by Guardiola, yet is still glad he worked under the Spaniard.

"I've been very lucky, I've had a mix of coaches this year," he added. "I did the preseason with Guardiola and he made me realize a few things."

Nasri insisted that Guardiola had wanted him to remain at City this season despite the coach unable to guarantee him regular playing time.

He said: "He told me: 'You're a waste! With the talent you have, you shouldn't be here at Manchester City, you should be at Barcelona.

"I don't know why you did that. Was it because of money?' I told him: 'No, there things in my life that you can't know about.' There's the cliche of the footballer who has only that in his life, but there are other things to be taken into account. We had two or three discussions after that, because he wanted me to stay and play for him.

"I said, 'I can't. You can't tell me that I'm going to start. I didn't play for seven months last season. I just want to play and get back that love of the game.' He said, 'I think you're making a mistake, but I respect your decision, and next year, you'll still have two years on your contract.

"I had several arguments with him and I had my doubts at the beginning, but in the end, I realised that he is a coach of the highest level. He made me reflect."

Having joined City for £25 million from Arsenal in August 2011, Nasri had a starring role but fell down the pecking order following the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne in the summer before the 2015-16 campaign. He then missed six months of the season after having an operation on a groin injury.

Nasri missed all of City's pre-season for the 2016-17 campaign and after returning to training overweight, Guardiola did not play him in the first four games.

"When I arrived Guardiola told me that my weight should be 76kg," the 29-year-old said. "I had not weighed that since my time playing for Marseille because in the Premier League, there is always a plan to gain more muscle. He wants slim and physical players. I arrived with four more kilograms and with Guardiola, if you are overweight by more than 2.5kg, you cannot train with the team. I had to train on my own."

Yet under Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla, Nasri has become a key figure in for the Spanish side, making eight league starts, scoring two goals and setting up one more.

"I fell under his [Sampaoli's] charm," he said. "He's a mix of Guardiola and [former Marseille coach Marcelo] Bielsa. His [Bielsa's] assistant Juanma Lillo was a mentor of Guardiola. Having them together at Sevilla works very well. I feel I can progress with them."

Information from France correspondent Ian Holyman was used in this report.