Nicolas Anelka's agent, Alexander Garini, has claimed that the former PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker's salary demands were out of reach for Italian sides, and that he had always intended to head to the new Indian Super League rather than find a home in Serie A.
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Fiorentina and Palermo were reportedly interested in signing the 35-year-old, who has been without a club since his controversial exit from West Brom earlier this year.
Sky Sports are reporting that Garini said: "Fiorentina never made contact with Anelka.
"Anelka signed a deal with Mumbai FC and so there is no chance of a U-turn.
"The contract will expire on December 25th, I have it, so there are no problems. We have never had contacts with Viola, so the news that said this is false.
"Anelka asked for 1.5 million euros each season -- a salary that is out of reach in Italy. We had contacts with Palermo, but we didn't go forward for this."
Anelka is not the only household name that has moved to the subcontinent, with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero deciding to join the Delhi Dynamos in late August.