Man City 'Approached' Barcelona Star After Cristiano Ronaldo Deal Collapsed

Manchester City are said to have made a late enquiry for Barcelona star Ansu Fati during the summer window after a move for Cristiano Ronaldo fell at the last hurdle.

Before signing for Manchester United in an incredible fairytale homecoming, Ronaldo was offered to City by his controversial agent Jorge Mendes - becoming an overwhelming odds-on favourite to join the Citizens. 

But after being pipped to the post by their fierce local rivals, City’s transfer window could have been even more dramatic after they lined up a move for one of Barcelona’s brightest stars. 

Manchester City were once the overwhelming favourites to sign Cristiano Ronaldo during this summer's transfer window

After a move for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner fell through, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claim that Pep Guardiola contacted Mendes - also the agent of Fati - to enquire over the possibility of luring the young prodigy to the Etihad.

Those high up in the City hierarchy are believed to made a case to sign the star in a bid to disrupt contractual negotiations between Fati and Barcelona.

It came after the Catalan club suffered the crushing blow of losing their talisman Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain just weeks earlier in the summer window. 

In welcome news for Barca fans, though, the prospect is thought to have barely got off the ground, with both Fati and Mendes in agreement that staying at the Camp Nou was in the player’s best interest.

City saw their pursuit of Ronaldo fall short and reportedly turned their attentions to Barcelona's Ansu Fati

Incredibly, the La Liga giants hold the Spaniard in such high regard that they handed him Messi's iconic number ten shirt.

Viewed by many in the Barcelona hierarchy as the club's next superstar, the 18-year-old burst on to the scene after emerging from the famed La Masia academy set-up.

Fati made history as he became the youngest Barcelona player to score in La Liga history, finding the net against Osasuna at just 16 years and 304 days old.

City's long-running interest in Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane also resulted in nothing, the England captain joining the likes of Ronaldo and Fati on the list of failed transfer targets.

Topics: Ansu Fati, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona, Transfers

Robert Mann

Robert is a journalist at LADbible and SPORTbible. As an experienced reporter, with stints at The Sun, Sky News, MailOnline and The Mirror, he exclusively revealed the first coronavirus case in the UK. You can contact Robert at [email protected].

@robertkylemann