After Gabriel Jesus picked up an injury on Sunday that left him in tears, many people speculated that Man City would move for Alexis in January to replace their fallen star.

It was a sensible conclusion to draw. City, after all, wanted Alexis in the summer. The player has clearly already moved there in his head, and although he’s available for free in the summer, paying £20m-£30m for him now is nothing compared to the £60m they were willing to shell out in the summer.

Alexis seemed to know it was City time as well. It can be no coincidence that his best performance of the season came against Palace as the window approached. Not only did he know his freedom was just around the corner, Pep was watching that match as they were City’s next opponents.

So it was a little surprising when Guardiola categorically denied that Alexis would move in this window. The Spanish coach is a likeable chap, isn’t he? As such, people tend to take what he says at face value.

But that would bely the fact that he is devious little toad who was firmly at the helm at Barcelona when they waged war against Arsenal to get Cesc Fabregas for a knockdown price.

During the summer, City had two months to bid for Alexis. Everyone knew they wanted him, and those same people knew the Chilean would jump ship in a heartbeat. So why did City wait until the final day of the window before making a bid?

I think that’s pretty clear.

By waiting so late, City knew Arsenal would struggle to get a replacement. Not only would they strengthen themselves by adding a top player, they would weaken their rival who would lose one.

Even if the deal failed, which it ultimately did when Arsenal refused to sell without securing a replacement, City succeeded in unsettling Alexis so much that the Gunners may as well have been without him anyway.

I see no reason to expect them to just leave well enough alone in this window. Of course, they may not need to do anything, such is the job they’ve done with Alexis. But when it comes to trusting what comes out of Pep Guardiola’s mouth, I’d sooner poke myself in the eye.