Hatton: at Eastlands

I think City fans for a number of years have had nothing to cheer about and the football they have been watching hasn't been the best in the world, but now with some of the players that are being mentioned that could come to the club most City fans will be absolutely ecstatic.

Quotes of the week

It's been an exciting week if you're a Manchester City fan.

First your club gets taken over by a multi-billionaire and then you sign one of the best players in the world! It doesn't get much better than that.

So Soccer AM decided it was only right that we speak to a true City fan to get their view on everything that has happened in the last seven days... cue Mr Ricky Hatton!

The Hitman has just embarked on what will be a gruelling training schedule ahead of his autumn showdown with Paulie Malignaggi, but he took time out of his hectic schedule to talk to Max and Helen on the phone.

After signing Brazilian superstar Robinho, new City owner Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim revealed his ambition to add a number of world-class players to the squad in January and Hatton admitted he was delighted by the news.

"It's just unbelievable," he told Soccer AM. "When you look at what Abramovich's got and we've just beat that by about eight or nine times.

"I think City fans for a number of years have had nothing to cheer about and the football they have been watching hasn't been the best in the world, but now with some of the players that are being mentioned that could come to the club most City fans will be absolutely ecstatic. It really is fantastic news.

"The one thing that you worry about when a new owner comes in is that he's not going to let the manager do his job, but he's said he's not going to do that.

"Hopefully he'll give Mark the money to spend as he pleases and leaves the football to him and if he does that then the future is going to look bright for City."

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who is backed by the financial muscle of Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG), has stated his desire to see his investment on the pitch reflected in the Premier League table immediately and Hatton believes a Champions League place is not beyond Hughes side.

"Well they've said they want a top four finish this year," he said. "And next year they want to win the league and the year after that they want to win the Champions League, which might be a bit ambitious!

"I think it more about next season though for me, but I think we'll be in and around the top four (this season); especially if in January he buys a few more players."