During his early years in the North West, Pablo Zabaleta would spend late afternoons immersing himself in Manchester City culture. He wanted to learn, become part of its fabric.
There was a pub across the street from his old flat in Didsbury. A known City haunt, the Barleycorn. A scruffy venue, not a place for your average footballer.
But then again, Zabaleta is not your average footballer, choosing to regularly mooch over for a quiet game of pool with girlfriend Christel Castano - now his wife - after a post-training siesta.
City supporters would come and go, happily chat and chew the fat.