Yaya Toure has revealed how he snubbed Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to join their arch rivals City - because he believes he has a better chance of success there.
Toure, who has become the highest-paid player in Premier League history on £200,000-a-week following his £24million move from Barcelona to City, said Fergie tried to buy him last summer - but he rebuffed the United boss.
"Last year Manchester United were interested in signing me," said Toure. "When I was talking about renewing my contract, United asked if I wanted to sign for them. In football, you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow.
"United are a big club, one of the biggest in the world. But I chose City because they have not won anything for a long time. It's very important when you come into a club if they start doing well. It's a very nice feeling to come in and see everything changing.
"For me that's very important. It's an interesting challenge for me because I hope everything goes well. Manchester City have not won anything and are not doing great in the league and hopefully we can go step-by-step. If we can get into the Champions League next season it would be very, very nice for me."
As well as believing he has a better chance of long-term success at City with their unprecedented financial might, compared to the bleak picture at debt-ridden United under the Glazers, Yaya said the chance to play alongside brother Kolo was a major factor in his move to Eastlands.
"I saw a lot of things written about why I left but, for me, I wanted to play with my brother," said Yaya. "That was very important for me. Now I've signed for City I'm very happy. Now my brother and I want to make great things happen at this club and I'm sure we'll do it.
"When you say 'I want to leave Barcelona', people think you're a crazy person, because they're a big team, a great team, and nobody wants to leave them because of that. But for me, I won everything there in three years and I needed another challenge. And for me, City nice challenge.
"My motivation is to do great things with City, to finish second or third maybe, to get into the Champions League. We cannot say more than that, because England already has great teams like United and Chelsea, so just getting in the top four would be very nice."
Although Yaya occasionally played in defence for Barcelona, he said City boss Roberto Mancini had bought him to play in his favoured midfield role. "I can play every position because at my academy back in the Ivory Coast, we were taught that," said Yaya.
"But my favourite position is midfield, because for me it involves a lot of work. You can run, give passes and do a lot to influence the game. I like to work hard, so that's my favourite position and where I want to play for City."
James Milner would be a superb signing, insist Manchester City stars as Aston Villa hold out for £30million dealManchester City stars have thrown their weight behind the club's new £24million move for Aston Villa star James Milner.
The 24-year-old is understood to be upset at claims he wants out of Villa Park - made by boss Martin O'Neill - but City midfielder Patrick Vieira insists no player can resist the lure of Eastlands.
City have already spent about £60million on Yaya Toure, David Silva and Jerome Boateng this summer and will present a final offer for Milner in next few days which could see Stephen Ireland move in the opposite direction.
In demand: James Milner is set to join big-spending Manchester City
Vieira said: 'Milner is a terrific player. Of course it is not my place to say if he has to come or not but when you look at players we have around it will be good.
'The attraction of City is that the future is fantastic. We have a really competitive team and I think every single player will want to play for City because the future is bright for City.'
Big draw: David Silva has already joined City in their latest spree
Goalkeeper Shay Given played with Milner at Newcastle United and knows all about the qualities of a player who is at home in the middle of the park as he is on the wings.
'I worked with James at Newcastle and he is a very, very good player, but we have got some great players already,' said the Republic of Ireland No 1.
O'Neill is ready to part with the midfielder as he tries to make his own moves in the transfer market, but the Villa boss is holding out for £30m.
City are wary of being ripped off because of their vast wealth, but boss Roberto Mancini is still keen to clinch a deal.
'Milner is a good player, but today he is an Aston Villa player,' the Italian told Sky Sports News.
'If we have this chance (to sign Milner) I think we can take him, but we must wait now.'
O'Neill is warming to the idea of taking midfielder Ireland in part exchange and could use a large chunk of the remaining fee on luring Celtic winger Aiden McGeady.
The boss said on Thursday: 'James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.
''Manchester City have put themselves into a different stratosphere at the moment, of course I understand that. A lot of players want to be part of that. So that is up to them. We will have to try and get on with it.'
However, Milner has told friend that he is upset that he has been painted as a villain in the saga and is seeking an explanation as to why his manager appears to be pushing him out of Villa Park.
Manchester City warned by Wolfsburg: Star striker Edin Dzeko isn't for sale at any price
Wolfsburg have told big-spending Manchester City that striker Edin Dzeko is not for sale.
Dzeko has been strongly linked with City over the summer, with Juventus and AC Milan also interested in the player.
But Wolfsburg have insisted the player will be staying with them, along with Zvjezdan Misimovic, who has been linked with a number of other Bundesliga clubs.
In demand: Edin Dzeko
'We have decided to end the recurring speculation: both Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic will be staying at Wolfsburg, no matter what offers come in for them,' said the club's managing director Dieter Hoeness.
'We did not want this speculation to become endless as we move closer to the start of the season.
'It made no sense to continue going around in circles. Now everybody can concentrate on the new season.'
Last week Dzeko said: 'I am being bombarded with offers,' admitted Dzeko. 'But I'll wait another week for Milan.'
WAG OF THE DAY
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Germany's Sami Khedira says Real Madrid is the only club he wants to join, which is bad news for Manchester United and Chelsea, who are tracking the Stuttgart midfielder. The Sun
New Barcelona signing David Villa believes he will score more goals if Spanish World Cup-winning team-mate Cesc Fabregas moves to the Nou Camp from Arsenal. The Sun
Chelsea are set to land a significant blow in their summer transfer battle with fellow big-spenders Manchester City by raiding Benfica for their £27m-rated defender David Luiz. They will also pay the Portuguese club £20m for midfielder Ramires. Daily Mail
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is making room for a new striker by putting Argentine Franco Di Santo up for sale, with Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli top of his shopping list. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are set to add to Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill's woes by attempting to lure winger Ashley Young to White Hart Lane. Daily Mirror
Blackburn are preparing a £2m-move for Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey. Daily Mirror
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is set to sell midfielder Javier Mascherano to Inter Milan to fund his rebuilding job at Anfield. Daily Mirror
West Ham boss Avram Grant is keen to bring former Arsenal and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre to Upton Park. Mirror
William Gallas's wage demands have put off Greek club Panathinaikos from making a move for the defender, who is a free agent after he was released by Arsenal this summer. Daily Mail
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane refused to answer questions about his future at White Hart Lane after scoring in the 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls. Daily Mirror
Stoke are considering a club-record £12m bid for West Ham and England striker Carlton Cole. Daily Mirror
But Stoke striker James Beattie is set to snub a potential move to Blackburn or Sheffield United to fight for his place at the Britannia Stadium. Daily Mail
Cardiff striker Michael Chopra has put Roy Keane's Ipswich on alert after warning he's ready to quit the Welsh club following their latest cash crisis. Daily Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United want to discuss a new contract for striker Wayne Rooney, whose current deal expires in 2012. Daily Mirror
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone wants his team-mates to concentrate on the "dirty" side of their game to prevail in the Premier and Champions Leagues next season. Daily Star
The Glazer family, who own Manchester United, have been urged to surrender control at Old Trafford after it emerged season tickets were selling badly for the first time in recent history. The Americans have faced opposition to their ownership of the club from fans' groups since taking over in 2005. Daily Mail
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent insists there has been no contact with Fulham about the vacant job at Craven Cottage. Daily Express
Mark Hughes has re-emerged as a candidate to replace Roy Hodgson as Fulham manager. Ajax manager Martin Jol rejected the chance to take the reins at Craven Cottage this week. Daily Mail
Eduardo da Silva has been told he must learn Russian within four months following his £6m-move from Arsenal to Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian side have made the demand as part of the striker's £50,000-a-week contract. Daily Mail
