City targeted Henry, Villa and Buffon

Jan 22, 2009, 16:16 GMT

London - Manchester City have failed in efforts to sign Thierry Henry, David Villa and Gianluigi Buffon, three of the biggest stars in world football, according to reports on Thursday.

City were rebuffed in a 91-million-pound (126.1 million dollars) bid for AC Milan's Brazilian forward Kaka this week, but according to reports in the British media, he is only the latest in a string of huge offers that have gone awry.

When manager Mark Hughes was told by the club's Abu Dhabi-based owners he could effectively make an offer for any player in world football, he highlighted the Valencia duo of Villa and David Silva.

City officials travelled to Spain in December and were prepared to make a 100-million-pound joint bid, but withdrew from negotiations when Valencia demanded 135 million pounds.

Juventus, meanwhile demanded 100 million pounds for Buffon, the Italy national goalkeeper; City again walked away.

It is believed to have been a similar story with Barcelona forward Henry.

'We're not anybody's fool,' Garry Cook, City's executive chairman, was quoted as saying in the Guardian.

'We've turned down negotiations for three different players because we felt the demands both from the (selling) club and, in essence, the players have been ludicrous.

'Our experience in this window is that clubs have been trying to do that to us. We chose not to engage any further in those conversations and Mark Hughes fully understands that.

'The perception that we are out there throwing money around is simply not true.'

Brazilian striker Robinho has apologised to club officials for leaving a training camp in Tenerife to return to Brazil to celebrate his 25th birthday.

He has been fined two weeks' wages but will return for next Wednesday's Premier League game against Newcastle United.