They still couldn't get him though.
Manchester City's transfer business has been phenomenal in recent years, but they have never managed to sign the biggie: Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend has always been an audacious transfer target of City's but him turning out in blue to adoring fans at the Etihad Stadium continues to be but a dream.
But that's not for the want of trying. Over the years, there have been several reports of overtures from City towards Messi and Madrid-based publication
MARCA claim the latest one came as recently as the summer.
According to their report, Messi turned down a mouthwatering offer from the Premier League side which included a €100m signing bonus and astronomical wages of €965,000-a-week. (£848,000-a-week). If
MARCA's report is accurate, we're really getting into silly figures now.
Not only did the Argentine playmaker reject their advance, he ended speculation over his long-term future last week when he put pen to paper on a new deal two weeks ago, keeping him at Barca until 2021. That contract includes a buyout clause of €700m and Messi will be 34 by the time it expires.
Messi's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season and he would have been free to negotiate with other clubs after January 1st. With that deadline looming, Barcelona have moved to put the transfer rumours to bed for now.
City may not have been able to snap him up. They may never get him. But, honestly, at that price, it's doubtful that Pep Guardiola is losing any sleep over not having Messi in his side. In fairness, City are doing just fine without him anyway - a quick glance at the Premier League table will tell you that.
