'I left': Defender says he was halfway through a medical with Man City but left to sign for Arsenal

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Manchester City are undoubtedly one of the biggest teams in English football nowadays.

However, it hasn't always been that way for the Cityzens.

Indeed, while Manchester City are now able to bully their way to the front of any transfer queue – City look set to sign Omar Marmoush ahead of Liverpool for example, 15 years or so ago, that wasn't the case.

Before City became the richest club in the world, they struggled to compete with the big boys in terms of transfers, and speaking to BeIN Sports, Mikael Silvestre has been speaking to Joe Hart about how he snubbed Man City in order to sign for Arsenal.

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Mickael Silvestre snubbed Manchester City to join Arsenal

The defender told a story about how he was set to sign for City before receiving a late call from Arsenal.

Silvestre says that he was actually halfway through a medical at the Etihad before he received a call from Arsene Wenger.

Silvestre promptly walked out on his medical and joined the Gunners instead.

"Did you know that we could've been teammates?" Silvestre told Joe Hart.

"In 2008, oh my god. It's a funny story. I was doing a medical but halfway through I had a phone call from Arsene Wenger, and I had to call Mark Hughes and say 'look I have this option to go.' And he said that in my shoes he would've done the same. In the middle of the medical I left to London, since then they only do the medical in one part. So funny," Silvestre said.

Manchester City signings from Arsenal

Arsenal got the better of City when signing Silvestre in 2008, but, from then onwards, City have been a constant thorn in Arsenal's side in terms of transfers.

Indeed, in the early 2010s, it felt like City were pinching Arsenal's best players in every single transfer window.

Arsenal lost so many talented players to City in that period as the tide turned in terms of which team were the bigger power in the Premier League.

However, in recent years, Arsenal have taken some players from Man City.

Not only have Arsenal signed players directly from City, they've also beat City to some key signings.

Indeed, City bid for Declan Rice two summers ago, but the midfielder ultimately ended up joining Arsenal.

City and Arsenal have been close rivals for over 15 years at this point, and as good as their battles on the pitch have been, their battles in the transfer market have been equally as interesting.