Having hi-jacked Chelsea's move for Robinho hours before the end of the transfer window the new owners of Manchester City have now set their sights on persuading Manchester Untied's Cristiano Ronaldo and a number of other top players from their other Premier League rivals to move to Eastlands.
The Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) shocked the footballing world yesterday by, firstly moving in at Man City, and then immediately bankrolling a British record €40million move for Real Madrid's Robinho.
The new owners, who are expected to assume full control of the club from Thaksin Shinawatra by the end of the month, have set some outlandish targets since emerging on the scene, but outlined their most ambitious yet when telling Arabian Businessmagazine that Ronaldo is on their list.
"Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious," owner-elect Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim said in an interview to be published on Sunday.
"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million (€110 million) but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more, I would think $240 million (€165 million).
"But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United."
In the interview, Al-Fahim adds that Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas are also targets.
"We're not just going to spend money on anyone," he insisted, "but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them."
The new owners have targeted a top four finish this season and a league win next year, while their hope is that the third year in charge will culminate in a Champions League win.
Al-Fahim is due to meet manager Mark Hughes in the next few days to discuss potential targets for January but the message is loud and clear. City have money and lots of it.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon admitted today that he cannot fully understand Robinho's decision to leave the Spanish champions for City.
Robinho had been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu all summer and, although Real had already rejected bids from Chelsea, speculation was still rife that he was set to join the Blues. Calderon claimed at the weekend that Robinho was going nowhere, but a shock swoop at the 11th hour on transfer deadline day saw the Brazilian move to City.
"Robinho had a problem with his frame of mind that was more important than we thought it was," Calderon told AS. "I spoke with him several times.
"When he talked about his situation he cried and asked to leave Spain. His departure from Madrid is not only for sporting reasons, there's something more which I can't understand.
"What's important is that the group is not weakened by a player who will only be upset.
"It is not the objective of Madrid to sell players. We have to defend the interests of the club.
"The reasons in this case were human kindness and sporting. The lad was feeling very bad."
