Arsenal target Nabil Fekir was pushed by his agents to move to Manchester City, but refused and parted ways with his representatives as a result, the player's father has revealed.
Fekir has been enjoying a breakout season at the Stade Gerland with Ligue 1 leaders Lyon and as a result has attracted many admiring glances, not least from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
But the attacking midfielder was pushed to sign for Manchester City by his representatives, something which the 21-year-old flatly refused to do, with his father's full backing.
Mohamed Fekir told Foot Mercato: "They pushed for him to sign for City.
"But I told them 'if it is the case that he would go to City and find himself on the bench it does not interest me and it does not interest my son either. He loves to play, he does not like to be a substitute."
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Mohamed confirmed the incident had led to his son parting ways with his agents; he currently has no representatives.
"They pushed him to sign for City, that's why he preferred to end things with them."
And the English champions were willing to snap up the Lyon star, having been impressed with his performances for Les Gones.
"Manchester were willing. We discussed this with the scouts, but we prefer that Nabil stays here for at least a year. Now is not the time to go abroad.
"To go to City now would be to commit career suicide."
Nabil is under contract with Lyon until the summer of 2019 and, currently the apple of president Jean-Michel Aulas' eye, will not be easily taken away from the Stade Gerland.
So far this season he had bagged nine goals in 21 Ligue 1 games, helping Les Gones to sit on top of the pile and remain firmly on course for a return to the Champions League next term.
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