Water is poured on the notion that Cristiano Ronaldo could join City, club had bid for Falcao rejected in the summer and Noel Gallagher picks his all-time City XI.

Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out a move to City in the January transfer window, declaring that he will never join United’s rivals while Sir Alex Ferguson is in charge.

City club officials had already ruled out a move for the Portuguese forward but that’s done nothing to stop giddy headlines predicting a world record bid.

“Cristiano has always been close to Alex Ferguson and even now they still talk. Cristiano simply would not risk hurting him by joining Ferguson’s immediate rivals,” said a source apparently close to the player in The Sun.

That should be that, then.

City were mentioned in the Spanish capital again in today’s media, this time by Miguel Angel Gil Marin, Atletico’s President who revealed that he rejected a bid from the Blues for Falcao in the summer.

"Apart from Athletic and ourselves, everyone has had to sell big names because they needed to survive in the current environment of bankruptcy,” said Marin.

A French club [PSG], a Russian [Anzhi] and two English [Chelsea and Man City] came for Falcao and he stayed because we took a risk we would be able to make our payments.

...Miguel Angel Gil Marin..

Finally, legendary Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has picked his all-time Manchester City XI and it takes on a decidedly familiar look.

Noel Gallagher's all-time City XI: Hart - Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy - Barry, Yaya Touré - Silva, Nasri - Tévez, Aguero

His subs?

"All the '68 team. Plus Mario Balotelli. With his iPad."

Superb.