It wouldn't surprise me if this is true, as I"ve said since day 1 that I thought, if we got involved, we'd likely be strung along all summer until he finally signs for Real Madrid.
If they weren't serious about him, I think we'd get him.
But the worse case scenario was always: we fuck about vs Real Madrid all summer, at the end they persuade him to spend another year at Monaco, we sign someone else, next season they pull out & he signs for Utd for 150 mill plus 50 mil agent's fee.
Would love him at City but if he isn't in the Prem, I'm not arsed.
If we have been holding back funds due to this, we can buy a cb.