Manchester City failed to sign Arsenal Star Alexis Sanchez because of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations according to former manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Sanchez joined Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 in a huge £35m deal and according to theMirror,Pellegrini told Chilean radio station ADN, that he was alsovery interested in aquiring the Chilean's signature.
"He was one of the best in the world and he showed it every day," Pellegrini said.
"He was a major player we wanted to take to City.
"We could not take him before he signed for Arsenal, it was because the club was punished for Financial Fair Play. I did not have the space in the squad for him.
"Alexis is a complete winner and hopefully he will remain a force for a number of years."
City were investigated by UEFA and found guilty of breaching FFP rules in 2014 and subsequently fined £16m by the governing body, as well as having spending and squad size limits imposed on them.
They signed Eliaquim Mangala, Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna that summer.
The Chilean has been a huge success since moving to North London and has scored 56 goals in 116 appearances in all competitions, including the 12 he's already scored this season.
After two years playing out wide, the 27-year-old has been redeployed as a central striker given the problems Arsene Wenger is facing.
This news comes simultaneously with the stalling of contract talks between Sanchez and his club. It's rumoured that the player is holding out for £250,000-a-week but Arsenal are not willing to go that high.
Manchester City have also recently been linked with the forward.
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