Pep fury as PSG poised for whizz kid Frenkie
in London last month. Sunday People Sport can reveal that City officials were scheduled to fly to Amsterdam on Thursday to complete a deal that would see them pay £66.8million next summer.
But less than 24 hours before talks between the two clubs were due to take place, the Premier League champs informed the Dutch giants that they wished to put the transfer on ice.
That opened the door for a PSG delegation – led by sporting director Antero Henrique and his Brazilian assistant Maxwell – to gazump Guardiola with a dash to Holland.
The belief in Amsterdam is that City’s financial might has been weakened by recent allegations regarding the club’s position on Financial Fair Play.
Leaks
UEFA have promised to investigate the club again following claims by Football Leaks that City’s Abu Dhabi owners were financing many of the club’s sponsorship deals themselves.
And it has been suggested by sources close to Ajax that City are reluctant to commit themselves to any more major outlays until it is confirmed they are in the clear.
Guardiola is said to be “angry and frustrated” that another top target looks like slipping the net.
Over the past year, City have lost out to PSG, Manchester United and Chelsea for the signatures of Dani Alves, Alexis Sanchez, Fred and Jorginho.
Guardiola felt that his personal intervention with De Jong would win the day, despite interest from PSG, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The midfielder was so set on working with the Catalan that he told friends he was ready to ditch his childhood dream of plying his trade at the Nou Camp to move to Manchester. Now he seems destined for Paris.
City have spent the last 12 months searching for a successor for 33-year-old Fernandinho.