Aston Villa signing Stephen Ireland feels former club Manchester City have tried to replace him for the past FOUR YEARS.
Ireland looked as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders after the £24million swap deal involving James Milner was completed.
He said: "I was prepared almost a year ago for City wanting me to go.
"I've been there eight or nine years - a lot of the staff who have come in haven't been there long so it's hard for them to show loyalty to me.
"I'm not really a very highly self-confident person but I can honestly say City have tried to replace me for the last three or four seasons and it's never happened.
"They brought in Elano and other players like that and it never happened."
