Was Kevin de Bruyne tricked into declaring he's staying at Wolfsburg?

City are off to a great start in the Premier League this season, with two emphatic wins from two and their defence set to be boosted by the impending arrival of defender Nicolas Otamendi from under the noses of rivals Manchester United.

But on Monday night it seemed that City's plans might be disrupted by missing out on the signature of former Chelsea midfielder De Bruyne when, at an awards ceremony staged by German newspaper Bild, the host asked him to repeat a German phrase: "I will stay this season at Wolfsburg."

The internet went crazy at the news, with De Bruyne apparently having confirmed that one of the biggest deals of the summer - for his price is rumoured to be as much £50 million - is off.

But German media suggested that De Bruyne, who is not a native German speaker, didn't quite understand what he was repeating - something the player's agent later appeared to confirm.

"I am furious by what has happened tonight. Kevin wanted to show respect by attending this event," his agent Patrick De Koster said, adding that, "No decision has been made on Kevin's future in this transfer window.

"We have yet to find out if Wolfsburg has reached any agreement with a club. Kevin remains a Wolfsburg player, and is focused on his job at the club. He also remains happy at Wolfsburg."

De Bruyne grew up speaking Flemish, French and English, though not German. Yet he has spent the entire 2012-13 season at Werder Bremen, and has been with Wolfsburg for 20 months, and some called into doubt the idea that he misunderstood.

Wolfsburg themselves got off to a winning start as the Bundesliga resumed this past weekend, with a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

De Bruyne's current employers finished second in the German top flight behind Bayern Munich last time out.

Fabian Kunze,Eurosport.de: "At noon yesterday Wolfsburg’s coach Dieter Hecking said at another award in a laudatory speech for De Bruyne: 'There are hard days ahead of all people involved. And if our ways should not continue together, I wish him all the best now.'

"This sounded quite like a first good bye. So such a clear statement by the player surprises a bit - though it seems he was fooled slightly, if what his agent says is true. But as in Germany lots of people think, he will play sooner or later for Bayern Munich (not before next summer) - this statement only strengthens these rumours.

"And after watching City against Chelsea: Why should they spend €80m for de Bruyne, when they are already that strong without him?"