I prefer to play according to the HiG rules and there is nothing like this in these rules. You can place a follower wherever you want and then move the Count.
Maybe RGG rules are different?
This actually only appears in the big box 2. In the mini box of count the rules are:
"When a player places a follower in Carcassonne, he may move the count to any of the four quarters in Carcassonne. From the quarter where the count stands, no player may move a follower."
Of course you can argue that the word "move" includes placing people inside the city of Carcassonne...