City rejected a late Manchester United approach for Rayan Aït-Nouri during the final hours of the summer transfer window.
United were looking for another left-back before Tuesday night’s deadline and asked their neighbours about taking the Algeria international on loan.
The Times reports that United had a loan offer rejected, with City only willing to sanction a temporary move if it included an obligation to buy Aït-Nouri at the end of the season.
United weren’t interested in those terms and the talks went no further.
Aït-Nouri stays at City
It was an unexpected Deadline Day development involving a player who has yet to feature for Enzo Maresca this season.
Aït-Nouri was an unused substitute against both Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, with Nico O’Reilly providing another option on the left.
The 25-year-old joined City from Wolves in the summer of 2025 and remains under contract until 2030.
According to The Independent, Aït-Nouri’s representatives had made United aware of his potential availability before the Old Trafford club approached City about a loan.
City were prepared to consider a deal, but only if United committed to buying him permanently next summer.
They declined and Aït-Nouri remained at the Etihad when the window closed.
It leaves Maresca with another senior option in a squad that underwent huge change this summer – and Aït-Nouri with the task of forcing his way back into the side.
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