COLOSIMO COMPLETES MAINE ROAD MOVE

The First Division side were in competition with Middlesbrough for the 22-year-old, but eventually he opted for City, signing a two-year contract on Monday.

Speaking about the deal, Dennis Tueart, the club's director of football said: "We knew about Simon about a year ago through someone I played with, Jimmy Shoulder.

"He was instrumental in setting up the Institute of Soccer in Australia which has been such a success in bringing on players like Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.

"Jimmy was also involved with South Melbourne and was over here about a year ago. It was then that he mentioned Simon Colosimo to us. We were interested but had a slight hiccup as Simon was captain of the Australia Olympic team, so he would not have been available to us until after October.

"Joe Royle reckoned that was too long to wait, so we put the idea on the back burner as we had wanted the player from the start of that season in The Premiership."

Boro were hot on the heels of City, as Terry Venables used his Australian contacts to good effect, but the defender eventually opted for Manchester, despite almost losing his career to a tackle from neighbours United in a July 1999 friendly.

After the Olympics and having negated the need for a work permit, through is marriage to an Italian, Colosimo was available again and City made their move.

"We were told through Arthur Cox's contacts that Simon would be available at the end of the season if we were still interested. We had videos sent over and we are delighted that we have been able to push the deal through," said Tueart.

"Our first priority is to make sure we are covered down that right side but Simon can also play in the centre of defence too," added Tueart.