Olympique Marseille's swoop for Mickael Cuisance was achieved amid rival interest from Manchester City.
OM snapped up Cuisance on Monday on-loan with a permanent option worth €18m.
The transfer coming just days after Leeds United pulled out of a deal as medical chiefs spotted a problem suggesting a 'future injury'.
And L'Equipe says City boss Pep Guardiola is also a fan.
City were beaten to Cuisance's signing a year ago by Bayern and have kept tabs on him ever since. But OM clinched the signing of Cuisance on Monday.
