Manchester City full-back Paula Zabaleta has claimed that City have become a bigger club than their local-rivals Manchester United in the recent years.

Zabaleta, who arrived at City in 2008, is set to depart the club on a free in the summer.

He said: "When I first came to Manchester I had the same feeling as I did in Barcelona at Espanyol: we were not the main club in the city.

"We can't say the same thing now. I remember at that time [Sir Alex] Ferguson called us the 'noisy neighbours' and this is something that I have made sure I have been since that time!

"For me, we couldn't let people say something like that about us. I thought if they call us the 'noisy neighbours' then let's make more noise in the city, let's prove that we are a club that is looking to achieve important things, maybe one day be the main club in the city and take this club forward to the next step to make this club better.

"When I came to Manchester it was a different club in a different era. We had to work really hard to become a better club but, after nine years, look where we are today. I am very happy and proud to have been part of this football club."