City can sign anyone they want to now

ULTIMATE SIGNING ... could Manchester City go for £200million-rated Lionel Messi?

MANCHESTER CITY’S heart-in–the-mouth title win did more than make them rulers of England.

It could be the spark that fires them to become kings of the world.

For I genuinely believe the Etihad Stadium will now turn into one of THE places where any footballer on the planet would want to ply his trade.

And yes, you can include the likes of Lionel Messi and even Cristiano Ronaldo in that as well.

There’s no suggestion Messi would want out of Barcelona but, if he did, there are few more attractive alternatives than City.

Likewise Ronaldo, for all his obvious United connections. City are such a juggernaut — and will be for years — they would be serious players for his services.

Over the past couple of years, just about every big name who has jumped on board has immediately found their motives questioned.

And most of them have been about lining their pockets.

Well now there is just as big an opportunity to line their trophy cabinets as well.

For the biggest stars around, it’s more about the medals than the money — and there’s a great chance for both at City.

Now they have got over the final hurdle and lifted that Premier League, Roberto Mancini’s men will be a serious, serious force for years to come, believe me.

And I don’t just mean in England. There are sure to be more additions in the summer and there will be few stronger squads in the Champions League next season.

I’m not going to join those who reckon United’s days at the top are now over.

That’s rubbish and Alex Ferguson will move heaven and earth to get the crown back.

In fact, Fergie deserves serious praise for pushing them so close, given this is probably one of his poorer United teams.

But City are here to stay. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs their head examined. Just like those who have put the boot in by saying they bought the title.

Yes, they’ve spent a bundle, but it’s not as easy as that. If it was, wouldn’t Chelsea have won it for years, wouldn’t Blackburn have followed up nearly two decades ago?

All Sheikh Mansour’s billions have done is allow City to win it earlier than others who’ve done it gradually. But that doesn’t make it wrong.

And those shouting loudest about it, would be first in the queue if there was a chance of a sugar daddy at their club.

City have bought quality. Big players who produce on the biggest of stages. Take Sergio Aguero, for example, who will never score a more crucial goal than that dramatic late title winner on Sunday.

Men like Vincent Kompany, who will become one of the world’s greatest defenders.

Or Yaya Toure, who has been integral over the last couple of months. Don’t forget, he left Barca behind to join City, so the precedent has ALREADY been set.

Everywhere you look at City there is class — often two in every position — so why wouldn’t anyone want to join?

And if you think they’re good now, can you imagine them with the likes of a Messi in the ranks as well?

Mind you, even he would struggle to surpass the drama we got on Sunday. I have to admit when Aguero scored, I instinctively jumped up and cheered.

That’s nothing against United, it was purely a natural reaction.

It was Arsenal’s Michael Thomas moment at Anfield in 1989 all over again.

By then I knew QPR were safe and was obviously delighted for Shaun, and I was just pleased that the team who deserved it — and let’s be honest, City did deserve it — had lifted the title.

I’ve a strong suspicion it won’t be the last they will be celebrating over the next decade or so.

But if United fans were gutted on Sunday, spare a thought for Bolton.

Owen Coyle’s men needed a win at Stoke to stay up but saw those hopes blown away by a shocking decision by referee Chris Foy to allow Jon Walters’ goal.

Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan clearly had both hands on the ball before Walters bundled it in.

Although the entire stadium saw it, somehow ref Foy and his assistant Darren Cann did not.

How the pair of them slept on Sunday night is beyond me. Plenty associated with Bolton didn’t.

Their mistake will cost Wanderers millions and people will probably end up losing their jobs... because two men didn’t do theirs properly.

The Premier League is rightly called the best in the world. Sunday proved nothing can match it for high-stakes entertainment.

But the best officials in the business? God give me strength...