Barcelona wonderkid Ilaix Moriba came within a whisker of signing for Manchester City until his father sought a drastic intervention, it has been revealed.
Moriba burst onto the scene last season under Ronald Koeman and became a fixture in the senior Barca side despite being just 18-years-old.
The all-action midfielder quickly became of the players to watch in La Liga, though his father has now admitted he had to cancel a flight to Manchester two years ago to prevent a move to the Premier League.
Moriba, who has played at youth level for Spain though is set to declare for Guinea, had found himself uncertain on whether to wait for a professional deal in Catalona.