Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne admits he came very close to signing for Portsmouth in the summer.
Dunne, 29 tomorrow, admitted: "The summer was a difficult time. There were things being reported, saying the club had accepted two bids for me.
"It was an unsettling time for me, especially as my wife is expecting our second child and the last thing we wanted was to leave the Manchester area.
"I just wanted to go on holiday and carry on playing for City - that's all I've ever wanted to do. When Mark Hughes came in he phoned me and asked me how I felt about the club and whether I felt I was at a stage where I wanted to move on or not.
"I said if I had the chance of staying, that's what I wanted. He seemed pleased and told me I was part of his plans.
"He said he would sort everything out for me within a few days but within half-an-hour he called back and told me everything was sorted.
"I didn't need to think of my future any more and I want to play for City for a long time."