Bruce is understood to have been less than impressed with the approach of Ghaly during a double training session at the club's Wast Hills complex on Friday.

As a result the Blues chief made his feelings known to the Egyptian international and decided to call off the proposed $7.5million transfer.

Blues had announced the deal on Monday subject to a work permit but until that had been obtained the formal paperwork could not be completed and technically Ghaly was still a Spurs player.

Bruce has taken advantage of that loophole, although the official standpoint of City remains that "footballing reasons" were the cause of the plug being pulled on the transfer.

Tottenham issued a statement maintaining it was Ghaly's decision to return to White Hart Lane.

The alleged incident overshadowed what should have been a satisfactory day for Birmingham with the capture of Aston Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell for £2million and Fulham left-back Franck Queudrue in a $6.5million deal.

That took Bruce's summer captures into double figures, but only for a few hours before news of the collapse of the Ghaly transfer was released by the club.

Bruce had already been frustrated by the collapse of Ghaly's team-mate Mido's proposed $15million move to Blues last week.