Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong is happy he ignored popular opinion when first signing for the club.

De Jong recalls joining City in 2009.

He said: "Everyone thought I was mad. Why did I prefer Man City above other clubs?

"But Sheik Mansour's people sold the club and their ambitions very well to me. They told me we were going to buy big players and we would be making big steps in a couple of seasons. ­Everything they said was solid.

"They literally said to me, 'within four years, we will have a team that will play for the league title'. And this season is the first year that is happening.

"I really think we can go and become the new ­champions of England."