Manchester City have beenrevealed, according to a Spanish publication,to have madea sensational attempt to sign FOUR Barcelona players during the summer transfer window, which included looking to lure the best player in the world to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's City are preparing to take on the Catalans at the Nou Camp in the Champions League on Tuesday, and as the Spanish coach returns to his former club for the first time since his departure, reports have suggested that he tried to convince a few familiar faces to join him.
According toMundo Deportivo, Guardiola first tried to sign former Liverpool hitman Luis Suarez in a sensational £90m deal, however the La Liga giants rejectedthe move after planning to offer the Uruguayan a new contract with the club.
A similar bid was made for the Brazilian international Neymar, and this ended in a similar result, while Guardiola looked to make a deal for Lionel Messi in what would have been one of the most sensational moves in footballing history.
Pep returns home and we want to welcome him with this video of his best Barça goals https://t.co/apcmQkeY4b pic.twitter.com/x0TvksSC7L
However, further reports indicate that the Argentinian's ongoing tax evasion trial with his father cut short these negotiations, with Guardiola giving up on the possible deal.
His failure in the transfer market then went to four after a failed attempt in luring midfielder Sergio Busquets to Manchester, however this run ended when he finally found his man in goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who was bought for £17m to replace the unwanted Joe Hart.
Whether the Champions League winning coach will return to the Nou Camp with money to spend in January or in the summer is uncertain, however the transferattempts are clearly a signal of intent from the club's owners and their faith to support him.