Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been surprised by Michael Chretien's about-face.

The Daily Mail says Chretien snubbed City in favour of a new deal at his current club, French league Nancy.

Hughes was ready to offer the Moroccan defender a £3.5m move to the Premier League. But Chretien, 24, made a surprise U-turn and signed a deal that keeps him in France until 2012.