Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly was reportedly expecting to make the move to Manchester City this summer.
Pep Guardiola's side have long targeted the 29-year-old defender but were unwilling to meet Aurelio De Laurentiis' asking price of £72million.
City instead made the move to bring the £64m Ruben Dias to the Etihad Stadium from Benfica last month.
Koulibaly had been 'certain' of making the move to City, according to Corriere dello Sport.
But the Italian newspaper reports that he was willing to stay, despite having his hopes of a big-money move dashed.