“100% false” – La Liga midfielder rejects Manchester City speculation in TikTok Q&A | OneFootball

Alberto Moleiro has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Manchester City last summer before he joined Villarreal from Las Palmas.

The 22-year-old joined Villarreal for a reported €16 million in June 2025, signing a five-year contract at the Estadio de la Ceramica after the Canary Islands club’s relegation from La Liga – a move that brought an end to a long-standing association with the club he had represented since joining their academy in 2018.

Moleiro has made an immediate impression in his debut season at Villarreal, contributing nine goals and four assists in 29 La Liga appearances this term and earning the division’s Best U23 Player of the Month award for October – underlining his growing reputation as one of the most exciting young attackers in Spanish football.

Moleiro: Manchester City interest ‘100 per cent false’

The Tenerife-born winger came through at Las Palmas alongside a profile that drew comparisons with Barcelona‘s Pedri, owing to their shared Canarian origins, technical finesse and natural creativity in advanced positions. Arsenal were among a host of European clubs previously credited with interest in the player before his move to Villarreal was confirmed.

Speaking in a Q&A on his TikTok channel this week, Moleiro was asked directly about reported interest from Manchester City during the 2025 summer window – and was unequivocal in his response. “The Manchester City thing is 100% false,” he said.

The denial puts to bed speculation that City director of football Hugo Viana had identified Moleiro as a potential target ahead of last summer’s transfer window, with the Spain under-21 international having instead opted for a move to Villarreal to continue his development in La Liga.

What are Manchester City’s transfer plans this summer?

City are bracing themselves for a significant summer of change at the Etihad Stadium, with as many as 12 first-team players expected to depart as Viana continues to reshape the squad in the image he is envisioning.

The most pressing business concerns the futures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. The latter has will leave when his contract expires in June, with Juventus among the clubs to have made contact with his agent Jorge Mendes over a potential free transfer to Turin.

Rodri’s situation remains unresolved, with City having submitted a formal contract offer to the Ballon d’Or winner amid interest from Real Madrid.

In terms of incomings, midfield reinforcement is the primary focus. Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson remains City’s top target in that department, though Forest have set a £100-120 million asking price for the England international – a figure that could prove a stumbling block.

City are also monitoring Sandro Tonali’s contract situation at Newcastle United, though securing both midfielders in the same window would represent a significant outlay.

The futures of Pep Guardiola and assistant coach Pep Lijnders will also shape the summer’s direction, with club executives having formally approached Guardiola over whether he intends to see out the final year of his contract – while Lijnders is expected to trigger a renewal option in his own deal in the coming weeks.