Manchester what?!

Who? This must be some mistake? Man City, one of the big boys now? What the … ? Stealing Robinho from the clutches of Cunning Kenyon? Scaring Man United into action over Berbatov? Talking of winning the Champions League next season? What is going on here?

City is supposed to be the ugly sister; the one who never gets taken to the movies. But, in true fairytale style, their Prince Charming has told them to sod the movie, let’s just write our own script! The fans are even referring to their home ground as ‘The Middle Eastlands’ now.

I can’t say I saw this coming. I mean, I thought Thaksin Shinawatra would go, but somehow I saw something more dramatic, like Thai secret police landing a helicopter in the middle of a Mancunian derby and grabbing the alleged fraudster out of the ‘prawn sandwich’ seats.

But no, the little big man has only gone and left City in a better position than when he arrived — and how many times has that been said about foreign owners? He even had the temerity to install a bright, young manager in Mark Hughes to replace the legendary lothario that was Sven ‘Go on, call me on the Ericsonn’.

How Abramovich must have flung the diamond encrusted toys out of his platinum pram when the last jewel of this season’s buys, the admittedly patchy Robinho, was swept away in one Dubai – inspired carpet ride.

I am not too sure about the ‘super club’ status that some are referring to already, but suddenly there really are two teams in Manchester.

I can just see the headlines now. “And the 2011 winners of the European Champions League are Manchester!! Er, City, that is … ”