THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has taken no time at all to aim a dig at his new club’s rival Manchester United.
The Bosnia international used the occasion of his official presentation as a City player on Tuesday to taunt United about their reputation for attracting fans from across England and around the world, but not necessarily Manchester.
"I hear a lot about the fans — that most of the people from Manchester are Manchester City fans," the 24-year-old Dzeko said, sparking laughter at a news conference.
The comment is unlikely to go down well with United, which is two points clear of second-place City at the top of the Premier League after half the season.
Dzeko, who completed his move from German team Wolfsburg last week for a reported fee of 27 million pounds ($42 million), said he was impressed by big-spending City’s ambition.
"I saw something else in Man City," he added. "It’s a big club and I’m an ambitious player and I think we can have a lot of success together.
"It’s a project … it’s a very good team with a very good coach. I was very happy (at Wolfsburg) but I wanted to change, try something new and better and that’s why I’m here."
Dzeko, who signed a 4{-year contract with City, could make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League match against Wolverhampton.
"For me, he is one of the best strikers in Europe," City manager Roberto Mancini said.
The Italian coach said City left back Wayne Bridge was undergoing a medical at West Ham, which is bottom of the Premier League, ahead of a potential loan move to Upton Park.
The England defender has lost his place in City’s first team following the arrival of Serbia international Aleksandr Kolarov.