The 19-year-old Mexican's father Zizinho had declared the Blues favourites to land the attacking midfielder, who has been hailed as the next Ronaldinho but who is expected to leave the Nou Camp this summer.
But it now appears City may have been used as a stalking horse, with Champions League finalists Chelsea suddenly in the market too.
They are believed to have offered the youngster £40,000-a-week to move to Stamford Bridge.
Eriksson has already said that the indecision about his future has cost the club three potential big-name signings from his list of top targets.
The City boss responded with a simple 'no comment' when asked about his future after landing in Bangkok for City's post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong, before being ushered into a waiting car.
A decision on Eriksson's future is needed, though, to ensure that the Blues do not lose their own stars.
Joe Hart is being courted by Premier League rivals after it became clear the goalkeeper had turned down the fresh terms offered before Eriksson's job prospects became bleak. He has two years left on his current contract and Tottenham are the keenest pursuers.
Hart's former club Shrewsbury, meanwhile, are set for £500,000 windfall after the 21-year-old was named in Fabio Capello's England squad to face USA and Trinidad and Tobago.
The keeper moved from Shropshire to City two years ago for an initial fee of £600,000, which also included an add-on for winning a full England cap.
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jerseyblue, jersey (15/05/2008 at 09:51)
Also, why as the manager, would you travel all that way, if you knew you were going to be sacked? Would any of us do it? Oh, by the way your gonna be sacked but before you do travel half way round world and meet my countrymen. Get lost we would say.
I honestly dont understand it.....Maybe its some cunning masterplan......
Its never dull being a blue...!
blue moon risin [Are we still risin' ?]. I hope so. (15/05/2008 at 10:00)
david7mcfc, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 10:00)
It's doing my head in.
And while I am at, so is this Fair Play thing. How difficult can it be to add up a few numbers?
jackblue, Prescot (15/05/2008 at 10:00)
The reason TS has ordered SGE to go is so that he can sack him without compensation if he refuses. The reason SGE is going is 'cos he wants his compensation. ( A little matter of 2 years at 2.5 mill a year)
marc (15/05/2008 at 10:02)
regarding dos santos... when will city learn?? why are we always the first club mentioned when it comes to a big player... yet we never really stand a chance of getting them.. we are such a soft touch. dos santos' dad/agent said a number of clubs were looking at him but only mentioned city... which i assume prompted chelsea amongst others to start enquiring.
so fed up with it all
Johnny Baguette, France (15/05/2008 at 10:13)
Failing that, sack Sven and start the required rebuilding of the club.
(Temporary) Aussie Blue, Perth, Australia (15/05/2008 at 10:14)
OrigamiNinja, Inverness (15/05/2008 at 10:14)
We then move on to the likes of Joe Hart turning down contracts and demanding more money which in my eyes is nothing short of a disgrace considering he is a young kid who has played half a season. Yes he is a great prospect but who does he think he is? Look at Kasper, he is wanting to move for his love of football as he wants to play on a regular basis yet we have Hart who is just thinking about the money and this annoys me!
The only thing I can agree with is that something with the Sven situation needs to be decided one way or the other sooner rather than later because I cant put up with the constant speculation much longer.
tommybates, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 10:17)
dpkmanc, Levenshulme (15/05/2008 at 10:18)
Thaksin's lovechild (15/05/2008 at 10:21)
Last I heard the window was still closed.
Bluetonium, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 10:25)
We have already seen Modric go to Spuds. Now Giovani to Chelski... Worst of all we are hearing about star players leaving rather than coming in. People say nothing big will happen with Premier League clubs signing players before the end of the EUROs, and maybe that was true in the past and we could have afford to sort out this mess first, but this summer the trend is different and we are already losing out on the players that the big clubs also want, and with Sven we actually had a chance of attracting some of them this year!
Trying to see the bigger picture and have faith in The Blues to come through it, but had to know who or what to have faith in at the moment. Could do with an official statement but have a feeling that we won;t hear anything until we know about the fair play result. Maybe if we get in to Europe via fair play, Sven gets another season with Thaksin saying in no uncertain terms 'win something or you go'. Whether Sven would be comfortable working under that threat is questionable though... He's not short of work and expects a little respect.
Shaun, At My Desk (15/05/2008 at 10:26)
Thaksin's lovechild (15/05/2008 at 10:27)
That's the first point that I have agreed with you on since this sorry mess started.
It's getting to the point where it's irrelevant as to who started it, who is right and who is wrong.
Give it some resolution and let's alll move on in peace. At least until one of the factions give the "I told you so" next year
Bluereed (15/05/2008 at 10:28)
Paul Calf, Handforth (15/05/2008 at 10:33)
jerseyblue, jersey (15/05/2008 at 10:33)
jerseyblue, jersey (15/05/2008 at 10:33)
Paul Calf, Handforth (15/05/2008 at 10:33)
GXS, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 10:36)
nick lawless,caterham,surrey,(Blackley born and bred), caterham (15/05/2008 at 10:37)
Jesper, Copenhagen (15/05/2008 at 10:39)
nick lawless,caterham,surrey,(Blackley born and bred), caterham (15/05/2008 at 10:54)
The Iceman Cometh, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 11:05)
...
another unfortunate surname.
Lets sign, Arshavin, butt, Windass, Shittu, and Messi and sit back and enjoy the commentry!
Peter P (15/05/2008 at 11:18)
Mr Origamininja, don't know if you're employed, would guess you're still in school.
But let's play with the thought. You work for MEN, you lift 2000 per mont, then Sun comes along, they like what and how you write and offer you 4000 - would you go ? maybe not... would you go to your employer and say, hey guys my market value is now doubled, if you wanna keep me you need to pay up.
Now in normal life this is happening all the time, but as soon as a footballer or a manager is involved this "rule" don't apply ????
then they are greedy ????
If you signed a 3 year contract with a clause that give you full payment even if you're sacked - would you then when sacked turn down that money ??? hell no !!!.
We're not in the dark ages anymore, today playing for a club is a job, some like their club a bit more then others but basically it's now work, and if you can get better pay you move or you make you club pay "market value" - can't get easier then that can it ?.