"China and India are gagging for football content to watch and we're going to tell them that City is their content. We need a superstar to get through that door. Richard Dunne doesn't roll off the tongue in Beijing."
Those were the words of former Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook regarding former Ireland centre-back Richard Dunne who had won the club's Player of the Season award four times in a row before those August 2008 remarks.
Dunne would go on to play another season with City before signing for Manchester City in late August 2009 and Cook's words still bemuse him as he told Newstalk's Team 33 at the SSE Airtricity #PowerOfGreen event.
"It's just stupid because I didn't hear it from him. You hear it from someone else," Dunne told me.
City manager at the time Mark Hughes appeared to be a fan of Dunne's but with the money beginning to roll into the club, new defenders were arriving.
"Yeah but then you're speaking and [I'm asking] 'why are you signing all these centre-halves if you're not going to sell me?' [And they reply] 'Oh no, we want to keep you'. And then they sign [other players] and you have to go and you get pushed out by people who just come in. It's difficult in that way and that's where the club sort of loses - it's a similar situation with Joe Hart where he's the soul of the club and then he's moved out because of I don't know why. But it's hard."
The Iron Man of Moscow also discussed that performance against Russia, almost joining Malaga, his time with Everton and what made Sylvain Distin his favourite centre-back partner.
Listen to the full chat with Richard Dunne right below or stream for free on iTunes:
SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of 100% green energy, have launched their #PowerOfGreen research findings with leading Irish stars, Enda McNulty, Alison Spittle and Richard Dunne, highlighting the achievements the nation is proudest of, our stand-out character traits and the ‘Irishisms’ that people in Ireland most relate to.
To celebrate the #PowerOfGreen all customers who switch to SSE Airtricity will receive €120 credit, as well as 10% off their home energy.
For more information on how to switch, please visit www.sseairtricity.com.
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