Patrick Vieira is convinced Manchester City are on course to become one of the biggest clubs in the world.
And the former City midfielder, who announced his retirement last week, hopes to play his part as he begins a new off-field role at the Etihad Stadium.
The wealth of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has elevated City to elite level and last season's FA Cup win will be followed by Champions League participation and a possible title challenge next term.
Vieira, now the club's football development executive, is excited by the possibilities.
The 35-year-old said: "I think the target and the ambition of all the people working for this football club is really high.
"They want to challenge the biggest clubs in the world and the club is getting there.
"When you look at the club three years ago and where it is now, it is a big change. You never know where the club will be in three years.
"We just have to keep working really hard, keep believing in what we are doing and I am sure the club will challenge the biggest in the world."
Vieira will primarily be remembered as an Arsenal legend after making 372 appearances and winning three league titles during nine years with the Gunners.
He only made 12 league starts after joining City in January 2010, but the club made a huge impression on him and he was keen to stay in some capacity after deciding to retire.
Vieira, who also won 107 caps for France, said: "It was time for me to hang up the boots but I am really happy with my new role.
"I have been at the club for a year-and-a-half but I feel like I have been here for 10 years.
"The football club is growing up so fast and I am really proud to be part of it.
"It is a hard decision but it was easy at the same time because the proposal from the club to work for them was exciting.
"I wanted to learn the other side of the game as well, and what a club to do it at."
Vieira was speaking as City unveiled ambitious plans for a new 80-acre, state-of-the-art training complex near to the Etihad Stadium.
As part of the recently-announced Etihad Campus project, the club intend to develop a world-class facility for their first team and academy.
"It is fantastic, unbelievable," said Vieira. "When you are a player what you ask for is a facility where you can express yourself and learn.
"I don't think you will find a better facility than this around the world."
Tottenham lining up Adebayor on the cheap
Harry Redknapp has made a move to bring Manchester City misfit Emmanuel Adebayor to Tottenham - and wants City to help fund the deal!
Adebayor returned to training yesterday with City's other unwanted stars and the club are desperate to offload the striker after leaving him behind when they left for their North American tour.
Spurs boss Redknapp is keen to do a deal and there have been discussions between the clubs - although any transfer is dependent on reaching agreement on his wages.
City want £14million for the ex-Arsenal striker, but may be prepared to loan him out if a club meets his £175,000-a-week wages.
Tottenham are interested in a one-year loan with an option to buy, but will only pay £75,000-a-week - meaning City would have to continue paying the player a staggering £100,000-a-week.
That leaves both sides miles apart, but Spurs' next approach could be to offer a loan fee to sign Adebayor, and there is genuine hope the deal could be done.
Real Madrid, who took Adebayor on loan for the second half of last season, are also monitoring developments but are not prepared to meet either the transfer fee or his weekly wages.
It leaves City with a major dilemma, and that gives Spurs hope of signing another ex-Arsenal player after Redknapp successfully snapped up free agent William Gallas last summer.
Redknapp has no fears about taking another former Gunner to White Hart Lane, even though Adebayor is deeply unpopular with both sets of fans.
The Togo striker became a hate figure among Arsenal fans after his ugly exit from the Emirates.
Adebayor also accused Spurs supporters of chanting abuse at him during Tottenham's Champions League clash with Real last season.
Manchester City may make a surprise bid for out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani. Caughtoffside bollox
Man City try to edge out Chelsea and Arsenal with £18m Romelu Lukaku bid
Manchester City are upping the ante in the chase for Romelu Lukaku, by reportedly tabling a £18million bid for the Anderlecht forward. Just days after Arsenal supposedly met with the teenager’s agent, City have now thrown their name in the hat along with Chelsea, who are the only other club believed to have made a concrete offer.
With Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor set to leave Eastlands this summer, Roberto Mancini is already working on recruiting potential replacements, and Lukaku has been identified as a main target.
Inter Milan and newly-rich Paris Saint Germain are also in the hunt, but the 18-year-old’s next destination looks increasingly likely to be the Premier League considering the level of interest.
The striker though, remains unfazed by the attention surrounding him, and after scoring a hat-trick in Anderlecht’s recent friendly against FC Brussels, played down speculation surrounding his future.
‘I’m keeping a cool head,’ said Lukaku.
‘Normally I train and I play my game. If I thought too much or if I was holding back, it would be the best way to hurt me.’
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United's search for a playmaker may turn to Santos' Paulo Henrique Ganso, with a £25m bid being considered for the 21-year-old. Metro
Barcelona are expected to make Arsenal an offer of around £35m for midfielder Cesc Fabregas this week, their third bid of the summer. The Independent
Blackburn have tabled a £7m bid for CSKA Moscow playmaker Keisuke Honda, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City and Liverpool. talkSPORT
Chelsea are hoping to trump interest from Juventus and Arsenal and lure £12m-rated Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Arturo Vidal to Stamford Bridge. Daily Mirror
Fiorentina are likely to test Tottenham's resolve to retain midfielder Niko Kranjcar's services with a formal bid. Footie-online.co.uk
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has denied that Liverpool have expressed an interest in Lee Cattermole. talkSPORT
Fulham manager Martin Jol is keen to bring former Leeds and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell back to the Premier League. footybunker.com
West Ham are lining up a £1.2m bid for Bolton midfielder Matty Taylor. The 29-year-old, who has one-year left on his contract, has also attracted interest from Stoke and West Brom. Daily Mail
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard claims Manchester United's prolific spending at the start of the summer has not dented his team-mates' belief that they can overhaul the champions. the Guardian
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has described a Malaysian fan who sat in a stand full of Liverpool fans wearing a replica shirt bearing his name as a "legend" on Twitter. Metro
NEW MIND GAME BOLLOX
Lurgie: City are thorns in our side
ALEX FERGUSON last night admitted: Manchester City are the new thorn in my side.
The Manchester United boss has had to fight off the challenge of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in his 25 years at the helm.
Now he sees City as the big threat to United's rule.
City won the FA Cup last season and broke into the top four with a third placed finish between Chelsea and Arsenal.
And Ferguson said: "One of that three has emerged really in the last couple of years.
"Not so long ago they were in the second division and never a thorn in our flesh. Where as every year we have had to contend with Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool.
"Nothing changes, one of them will always be a thorn in our flesh you cannot change history."
Ferguson also believes that City's FA Cup triumph that ended a 35-year silverware drought will give Roberto Mancini's men extra confidence for the title challenge.
He said: "Winning a trophy does you a power of good.
"It takes the pressure off the manager, gives confidence to the players, we have experienced that ourselves and we expect them to be challengers next year."
more bollox later ....
