With the next summer transfer window on the horizon, Manchester City could be set for another significant period of business.
However, with recent reports claiming that Real Madrid are hot on the heels of securing a summer deal for reported City target Jude Bellingham, the Citizens could be set for disappointment on that front.
Should the young Englishman end up making a move to the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund this summer, this would make him another target City ended up missing out on.
Let’s take a look at some other players from years gone by that the Manchester club were reportedly after but ended up failing to secure.
Edinson Cavani
All the way back in 2013, after scoring 104 goals in 138 appearances for Napoli, the Uruguayan striker, unsurprisingly, found himself with multiple clubs across Europe looking to sign him, including City.
Unfortunately for any City fans hoping to see Cavani link up with Sergio Aguero and create what surely would have been one of the deadliest strike partnerships in the Premier League, the centre-forward joined Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £55m. During his time in Paris, Cavani found the net 200 times in 301 appearances, further increasing his stature as one of the best goalscorers in recent history.
Eden Hazard
In 2012, not long after City secured their famous Premier League title, the club found themselves in a three-way battle alongside top-flight rivals Chelsea and Manchester United to sign Eden Hazard from Lille.
The Belgian chose to make a move to West London rather than Manchester, ultimately spending seven years with Chelsea before joining Real Madrid in 2019. With 352 appearances for the Stamford Bridge outfit to his name, Hazard scored 110 goals, provided 92 assists and won numerous trophies, cementing himself as one of the best signings made under the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea.
Harry Kane
Fast forward to the summer of 2021, a period that saw City break the English transfer record by spending £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola’s side were after another English talent – Harry Kane.
With reports suggesting the Tottenham Hotspur striker was looking to make a move away from the north London side, City’s efforts were shot down almost immediately, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy not even entertaining the idea of discussing a possible move.
Lionel Messi
One of the greatest players of all time and one that Guardiola appreciates more than any other player he has managed throughout his career – Lionel Messi – had the chance to make a move to the Premier League and reunite with his former Barcelona manager back in 2020.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has over 700 senior club goals to his name, would have undoubtedly been a monumental addition to the Premier League and City’s squad.
Kaka
Following the 2008 takeover, City started being linked with players left, right and centre. One of the more memorable from this significant era was Kaka.
Having reportedly made a bid of over £100m with a weekly wage package of £500k in January 2009, the Brazilian turned down the chance to join the Citizens and instead stayed at AC Milan before making a move to Real Madrid in the following summer window.
