Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha wants to sign permanently with Sunderland.
The on-loan defender admits he was sad to leave Manchester City last summer, 14 years after signing for his boyhood heroes as a 10-year-old schoolboy.
But such has been the transformation in his career this season - his team-mates have even christened him Diego after his sensational Maradona-style solo goal in the 3-0 demolition of Chelsea - that he wants to sign permanently for the Black Cats, if City decide he can leave.
Onuoha explained: "It was difficult leaving City. In pre-season I didn't think I was going to be in Roberto Mancini's 25-man squad, so it was a case of staying and playing in the reserves or hopefully someone wanting you to be in their squad or side for the season.
"I did leave City with a heavy heart, because I never expected myself to leave to be honest. I'd been there so long, since I was 10, and I had the feeling I could be in the side.
"But I wasn't - so you have the moment when you say, 'You have to do this, you have to move on'. It was a sad time.
"Thankfully Sunderland came in and once they did it was a bit of a no-brainer.
"This is a new home for me, so I can't complain at all. It has worked out very well.
"Steve Bruce put some faith in me and said that he wanted me to be a big part of his season. You can't say no to that, can you?"
And Onuoha, who was tracked by tomorrow's opponents Everton before his Sunderland switch, is very interested in putting down roots on Wearside. "Definitely," he enthused. "If City were to sell me, this is definitely a place I would consider coming back to because I'm really enjoying it.
"A lot of the players here are of a similar age with similar ambitions, so it's a great place to be."
