Manchester United supporters were left disappointed after Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez revealed his new team would not be the Red Devils.
The 25-year-old midfielder left a series of cryptic tweets over the past few days claiming that he would announce his 'new club' on Wednesday.
The Spanish international, who scored against Liverpool in the Champions League earlier this season for Diego Simeone's side, has been linked with a big-money move to United in recent months after a series of impressive performances.
At 11am on Wednesday he made good on his promise of an announcement - but rather than a move away from Atletico, he told fans via an Instagram Live video that he and his brother Aaron had created the Costa City club - a project based in his home city of Elche which will bring together amateur players.
It means United will most likely turn their attentions to other midfield targets when the transfer window eventually re-opens, with the likes of Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and wonderkid Jude Bellingham of Birmingham also on their radar.
Saul, meanwhile, has a contract with Atletico which runs until 2026, and Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague insisted ahead of his announcement that the player remained committed to his club.
"First of all, he’s a big Atletico Madrid fan, or he feels very close to the club," Balague said. "He has renewed his contract despite having interest from others.
"He will always tell the club if he’s leaving but that will be at the right time if he leaves. That’s not how Saul does things, that’s not how Saul does things.
“Do you think he will put a post on Twitter saying that he’s going to another club?
"Atletico Madrid will tell you they don’t expect anything because he’s not leaving."
