City have missed out on Sporting Lisbon winger Francisco Trincão, with the 26-year-old completing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli instead, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.
City, along with Tottenham, had emerged as Premier League suitors last week after Trincão paused his move to Al Ahli to consider his options following Portugal’s exit from the World Cup. Enzo Maresca was said to admire the winger’s profile, while director of football Hugo Viana knew him well from their time working together at Sporting. But that period of reflection has ended with Trincão choosing Saudi Arabia after all.
Romano confirmed the deal was in place on Monday, reporting a fixed fee of $45m (£33.7m) plus $5m (£3.7m) in add-ons, with paperwork now being exchanged between the two clubs. Al Ahli, who lost Riyad Mahrez as a free agent this summer, have identified Trincão as his direct replacement.
Winger option ended
City’s interest had always been the more conditional of the two Premier League clubs linked. Reports throughout the saga indicated City would only move for Trincão if Savinho left the Etihad first, with Tottenham’s long-standing interest in the Brazilian winger seen as the mechanism that could have freed City to act. That scenario never played out in time.
Trincão scored 13 goals and provided 15 assists in 54 appearances for Sporting last season, in what was widely regarded as the best campaign of his career. He previously spent time on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in his career, without ever making a permanent switch to the Premier League — a “unfinished business” narrative that had featured heavily in reports linking him with a return to England.
For City, the pursuit was one of several winger options considered as part of Maresca and Viana’s rebuild of the attacking unit following Bernardo Silva’s departure, with Savinho’s own future still to be resolved this summer.
Story is based on reporting from Fabrizio Romano and Portuguese outlet Record, and has not been independently confirmed by Manchester City
