Manchester City and Pep Guardiola reportedly pushed their hardest to try to lure Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal to the Etihad Stadium during the latest transfer window.
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Yamal is the latest prodigy to emerge from Barca's famed La Masia academy and be thrust into the limelight.
Four games into the new LALIGA campaign, and the teenage sensation is perhaps one of the best performers in the entire league so far.
His early displays for the Blaugrana even earned him a call-up to the Spain national team, seeing him become La Furia Roja's youngest-ever appearance-maker and goalscorer.
While he has been a phenomenon for Xavi Hernandez, the Premier League champions seemingly tried everything in their power to make him one of their own in the past transfer window.
According to Radio Marca, the Citizens made a massive push to acquire the young star, but ultimately failed as neither the player nor the Spanish club were eager on seeing the move happen.
What is likely to have given the Catalan giants hope is the fact that the Esplugues de Llobregat native's current contract with the five-time European champions is set to expire at the end of this season.
Speaking to Esport 3, Yamal's agent confirmed that a club was interested in the player, but did not mention City by name.
"Lamine Yamal and [Alejandro] Balde have been in a serious situation to leave this summer because there is a club that tried to catch them," Eric Masip said.
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The same report suggests that while the UEFA Champions League title holders did pursue the two-time Spain international, this came at the expense of their relationship with Barca, who are believed to have not been impressed by City's efforts to prise away their newest sensation.
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