Initial suggestions that Pellegrini would be presented to the media as the successor to Roberto Mancini at a press conference on Thursday came to nothing, as the curious delay in the appointment of the Chilean continued without explanation.
While there has never been any suggestion that the coach who quit as Malaga boss was stalling on the move to City, there was confusion over why he was not getting to work.
Now it is being reported in the Daily Mirror that Pellegrini has not received his wages from cash-strapped Malaga for the last two months and under the terms of his contract, a third month without payment will allow him to join City without any compensation needing to be handed over.
Pellegrini has already held a meeting with City chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain and is said to have handed in a "detailed plan" as he prepares to lead City back to winning ways.