Setanta report that Javier Garrido is getting a bit excited, which is strange as he could be one of the players out of the exit door if City do bring in countless new faces (the new owners reckon 18 players could arrive in the next year). Indeed, the Spaniard has only started one match for Hughes’ team so far this season, yet he’s still bullish about the future at Eastlands.

Garrido admits that he is excitedly awaiting the arrival of Robinho at training ‘almost without believing it still’ but expects more to follow.

The Spaniard told El Pais: “The previous owner [Thaksin Shinawatra] tried unsuccessfully to bring Ronaldinho which gave an idea that his claims of assembling a big team were not just fireworks.

“But to put an offer of €42 million on the table for a player from Madrid…

“Well! The message is a warning to Roman Abramovich. We are the new Chelsea. Let’s put them in the shade.”

Perhaps another rich consortium will arrive at a new club in the summer and claim that they are the new Manchester City. After all, there are plenty of rich people in the world who might like to buy a Premier League outfit on a whim. But does it start taking all the fun away when clubs become billionaire’s playthings?