The agent of Georgia international Jano Ananidze admits Manchester City tried to sign him as a younger player.

Ananidze was spotted as a youth teamer by City when coming through at Spartak Moscow.

Agent Alan Prudnikov recalled to Sport24: “I found a club willing to buy him.

"Jano is an insanely gifted kid. From the age of 14 they watched him - Manchester City. They wanted to buy Jano when he had his coolest heyday at Spartak. Before the injury. The general directors who were at Spartak did not consider the sale of Jano at that time.

"It is a pity, he has a bright head, he would be a real boon for European football."

Ananidze is currently tied to Dinamo Tbilisi.