Bowman now director of the Lee Man FC academy in the Hong Kong Premier League recalled Inter making their attempt.
He told talkSPORT: There were tournaments we took him to, just for the experience, even if he couldn't play we wanted to get him used to travel and different environments.
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"After another tournament we received an offer from Inter to buy him. We were in Italy and they asked us how much we wanted. Phil would never have left: he's a City fan, he was a City ball boy, he's City through and through and he's not interested in any other club.
"Phil was well known throughout the UK and Europe for the standard of him but there was no chance of him leaving the club or that the club would ever let him go."