Manchester City were just days away from completing a £80million move for one of the Premier League’s most talented midfielders in 2023, only for a two-year legal ordeal to put a stop to the transfer and almost derail the player’s career.
Pep Guardiola’s side had just come off the back of their treble-winning season, but needed reinforcements in the middle of the pitch, with club captain Ilkay Gundogan leaving for Barcelona.
