Zakaria Bakkali: 'I turned down Manchester City'

Zakaria Bakkali has revealed that he turned down the chance to sign for Manchester City before penning a new three-year deal at PSV Eindhoven two years ago.

The 17-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best young talents in European football, scored a hat-trick against NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch league at the weekend.

"A bunch of agents wanted to represent me after I was voted best youth player in the world at the Nike Cup at the age of 15," Bakkali told Voetbalmagazine.

"I considered leaving PSV and even visited Manchester City to sign a contract there. But my dad convinced me not to leave and I signed a three-year deal with PSV instead."

A number of European clubs are believed to keeping an eye on his development.