Alvaro Negredo will NOT be returning to Manchester City next season.

The Spanish striker, who joined Valencia a season's loan on deadline day in September after failing to settle in England, claimed during the week that he could be sent back to the Etihad if his new club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

But sources at champions City are adamant that Valencia have a contractual obligation to hand them £25million for Negredo next summer.

City allowed Negredo to move back to La Liga on loan because Singapore businessman Peter Lim was in the process of buying Valencia and money was not in place to finance a permanent deal.

Lim – who has joined up with Manchester United’s ‘Class of ‘92’ to buy a stake in non-league club Salford City – has now completed his takeover.

And City now expect to be paid in full for Negredo, who scored 23 goals for the club, next summer.