Geronimo Rulli appeared to suggest he could play at Manchester City in the future as he arrived to start the 2016-17 season at Real Sociedad.
Rulli, 24, who has played for La Real on loan from Uruguayan club SD Maldonado for the last two seasons, was bought by City earlier this summer for an undisclosed fee only to be immediately loaned back to the La Liga outfit.
Sociedad then released a statement saying they have agreed a deal to buy him outright from City, with the transfer to be completed in the January window.
However, Mundo Deportivo has claimed that deal includes a clause for the Premier League side to buy back Rulli for €14 million in each of the next three summer transfer windows.
Speaking to reporters on his return to San Sebastian after representing Argentina at the Olympics, Rulli did not openly mention City, but admitted he would be unlikely to turn down the chance to play for a top club in the Champions League.
"I'd be lying if I said that any player would not want to be at one of the best clubs in the world," Rulli said. "As of today I want to play for La Real, I wear their colours. Then, whatever might happen later, will happen. I'm not thinking about the future now, just the present."
Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay also accepted his club would be powerless to keep Rulli should the player and City push for a move in the future.
"If Manchester [City] want him, and Rulli wants to go, he will go," Aperribay said.
City, meanwhile, are reportedly close to signing Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for a fee of around €16m.
City's long-serving No. 1 Joe Hart is also considering his future at the club, having been benched for their first two competitive games of the new season, with Willy Caballero preferred by new manager Pep Guardiola.
