Manchester City missed out on McDonald Mariga after a failed work permit application.

The Parma midfielder eventually joined Inter Milan last night before the transfer deadline.

A deal was in place to bring the Kenya international to Eastlands but City were undone by permit complications and had an immediate appeal turned down on Monday.

City officials attended a hearing at Wembley which included representatives from both from clubs, the FA, Premier League and the PFA but were told the player did not meet the criteria to play in the country.

Despite having 24 caps for Kenya and playing in at least 75 per cent of their games over the past two years, Mariga is the victim of his country's lowly Fifa ranking of 98.

By letter of the law, the East African country must be in the top 70 before a move to English football can become legitimate, a rule which City look set to dispute.