After the high-profile summer transfer of David Beckham that took the England captain to Real Madrid from Manchester United, Steve McManaman made the opposite journey, with his destination being the other team in Manchester, City and a spanking brand new City of Manchester Stadium. Brian Beard caught up with 'Macca' just after his first training session with his new teammates, or some of them at least.
Q:HOW DID THE FIRST DAY'S TRAINING GO?
A:It went very well thanks very much. There are a few lads missing at the moment because they are away on international duty but there were a few still there at the club and everything went well for the first session.
Q:DID ROBBIE FOWLER HELP WITH INTRODUCING YOU AROUND?
A:To be honest I knew a lot of the lads already so it was quite easy because they are a friendly bunch anyway.
Q:THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF SPECULATION OVER THE SUMMER, ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, SO HOW BIG A DECISION WAS IT FOR YOU TO COME BACK?
A:Not very big at all, to tell you the truth. I had decided to come back at the end of last season really or even a bit earlier, maybe a couple of months before then. I thought it would be a good time for me to leave so it wasn't a tough decision at all.
Q:WHY DID YOU LEAVE?
A:Because I wanted a change of football really. It had come to the point where I fancied a change and I didn't want to stay there and spoil the four fantastic years I had already had with Real Madrid.
Q:HOW DID THE REAL PLAYERS TAKE IT WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT YOU WERE LEAVING, BECAUSE YOU MUST HAVE GOT CLOSE TO THEM IN THE FOUR YEARS?
A:That's right, I got close to a lot of the players and a lot of people at the stadium and in and around Madrid. They were all very sad seeing me leave to be honest without wishing to sound pretentious about myself. A lot of the lads were sad to see me going but I went back to see them and I am going over to see them again at the weekend and I have arranged to meet up with a few of them again.
Q:YOU'VE SIGNED FOR MANCHESTER CITY BUT PRESUMABLY THERE WERE OTHER OFFERS ON THE TABLE FROM WHICH YOU HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE?
A:I actually had offers to play in Italy, to be honest. I also had opportunities to stay on and play in Spain. But, in the first instance, I didn't want to go to Italy and I also didn't want to play for any other Spanish team after playing for Real Madrid. That was the pinnacle for me and it was also a problem for me because, as much as I loved the lifestyle out there, I didn't want to play for another team and go back and face Real Madrid.
Q:SO AFTER MUCH SPECUALTION IN THE MEDIA OVER HERE, IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS YOU DECIDED ON A RETURN HOME, WHY WAS THAT?
A:England was an obvious attraction for me in respect of the fact that I know the Premiership very well and of course I know all the teams inside out. In the final analysis it was quite an easy choice for me to make and here I am.
Q:HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON A LIFESTYLE THAT WAS ALMOST HEAVEN MADE FOR YOU?
A:Oh yes, I love Spain and I will keep a base there and I would always live in Spain in the future but you know football is my job and that's what I was there for, not to just enjoy the lifestyle.
Q:AND COMING TO MANCHESTER HAS A FEW PLUSSES AS WELL AS THE FOOTBALL?
A:Exactly, I have come back to Manchester, which is 30 minutes away from my family and my friends, which is something I have been without for the past four years. Everywhere has plus points and negative points.
