Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that the club’s breach of Financial Fair Play regulation in 2014 stopped the club from signing Alexis Sanchez before he completed his move to Arsenal.
Sanchez has been in terrific form in the Premier League since moving to England from Barcelona two years ago with the Chilean proving himself to be one of the division’s top players for Arsenal.
It was reported at the time that Liverpool were keen on signing the forward, who opted to move to the Emirates Stadium instead, but now Pellegrini has admitted he was also in the pursuit to sign the 27-year-old.
But the manager – who left City in the summer – indicated that the club’s £16.3 million fine and squad restriction following their failure to comply with FFP meant that the Citizens weren’t able to press ahead with the move.
Pellegrini told radio station ADN, per Goal: “He was one of the best in the world and he showed it every day. 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.”
City fans will be lamenting their club’s FFP issues two years ago as it stopped them from bringing in one of the league’s in-form players.
Sanchez has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season for the Gunners.
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