UEFA opens one door to City but closes another....

THE GOOD news is that City have been cleared to play in the Champions League next season, after UEFA were satisfied with changes to Girona's ownership structure made over the summer.

- JOE BRAY

The bad news is that UEFA have imposed a strict transfer ban on dealings between the two City Football Group sister clubs, both competing in the Champions League for the first time.

UEFA have cracked down on multi-club ownership groups when it comes to two different clubs with the same owners competing in European competition.

In the same ruling that granted City and Girona permission, Manchester United and Nice were also given the same restrictions as both are now part-owned by Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS. Aston Villa and Brighton have also had to make alternative arrangements to sister clubs in the last year or so.

The CFG won't have been shocked by the latest UEFA decision.

It follows previous rulings, and also makes sense.

City could hypothetically loan Girona a player to help them into the Champions League knockout stages, benefitting the same owners and distorting the competition.