London, Aug. 7 : Thailand’s former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has dismissed reports that he wants to sell the Manchester City football club due to financial difficulties.

Expressing his dismay over the way talks with potential commercial and business partners have been interpreted, Shinawatra, who has been charged with corruption back in Thailand, said that there was no truth to rumour that he was engaged in a sell out.

His assets of one billion pounds being frozen in Thailand have not helped Thaksin’s plans for City. His wife Pojaman has been sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion.

He had a morning phone call with City''s executive chairman, Garry Cook, to reiterate his commitment to the club Blues from his current base in Beijing.

"It is not true to say Thaksin Shinawatra is selling Manchester City," a City spokesman said.

It has, however, been confirmed that Thaksin has been in contact with associates, who have expressed an interest in investing in the club, although these have been nothing more than ''exploratory''. (ANI)