Manchester City: Bigger and Better Than Manchester United and Real Madrid?

Who would ever have thought it? Manchester City outbid Chelsea (yes, Chelsea!!) to sign Brazilian superstar Robinho.

For £34.2 million.

A British record transfer fee.

Believe it or not, it's true. And it seems now, that after being taken over by Abu Dhabi United Group, Manchester City could become a superpower in English football.

Actually, make that world football. These new Arab owners are reportedly four times richer than Roman Abramovich. Yes, four times richer than Roman Abramovich, the Russian guy who owns Chelski.

It seems so strange that just a few days ago we were all talking about the lack of money Manchester City had, and how they were in desperate need of an injection.

They reportedly had to take out a loan of £30 million just to pay for salaries and transfer fees. There were even fears that they wouldn't be able to repay the fee they paid for previous record signing Jo.

And now, just a few days later, Manchester City fans are all happy that Shinawatra is gone (as chairman at least), and that new owners are in place. Although not much was known at first about the new owners' wealth.

Until the following day. 

Not to be outdone by rivals Manchester United and their £30.75 million purchase of Dimitar Berbatov, the new owners went and bought City fans a welcome gift. A Brazilian guy called Robinho. He only cost £34.2million.

Oh, is that a British record? These Arabic owners probably didn't even notice.

And the new owners aren't going to stop there. Oh no, it's not just Robinho they've wanted. Fernando Torres, Francesc Fabregas, David Villa, and Cristiano Ronaldo are all on the radar of new chairman Sulaiman Al-Fahim. The latter he reckons he can get for £135million.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said:

"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million (£90m) but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more; I would think $240million (£135m). But why not?"

Why not indeed? They have the money. Soon enough they could have the other superstar players to attract Ronaldo. And even sooner they could have the superpower status to sign him. The latter Al-Fahim thinks City will definitely have:

"We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United", he declared with certainty.

So very lucky you are, Manchester City fans. You have real money in the bank now, most likely more than the £800 million Shinawatra was ever going to promise. Money that has gone on another record-breaking Brazilian, and could quite possibly go on Villa, Torres, Fabregas, and quite likely Ronaldo.

I'm sure that Manchester City will now go on to be a superpower in the world of football. Money can make or break a football club, but with Robinho coming in for a British record, and Ronaldo possibly coming in for a world record, here money surely will only make Manchester City.

It could make them one of the best football clubs in the world.

By Yoosof Farah, a die-hard Manchester United supporter.