Adam Johnson has admitted that he's always wondered about the strength of Real Madrid's interest in him before he joined City. Thanks to the Independent, he knows now his dream move was kosher.

Juande Ramos, contributing a column to that paper, reveals that he was very taken with the idea of recruiting the then-unknown youngster when he took over as Real boss.

In a piece headed "Johnson's talent would have been a good fit at the Bernabeu" (cut that one out for the scrapbook, Adam) ex-manager Ramos lays out the scenario ...

"When I became Real Madrid coach in December, 2008 we needed to sign a wide player in the winter transfer window, and it raised a few eyebrows when I said I wanted a winger from Middlesbrough who no-one had ever heard of.

"In the end we did not get Adam Johnson, but I was not surprised when he moved on to Manchester City and had a good first half-season.

"He was a player that caught my eye when I coached in England and he would not have been out of place at the Bernabeu, just as now he looks the part at Eastlands.

"It is too easy to say now, with the benefit of hindsight, that he should have gone to South Africa, but I'm sure he will play his part from now on and give people reason to believe in a bright future."

Straight from the horse's mouth then, AJ. Luckily, all ended well at another big club ...

Elsewhere, as Argentina limber up for their World Cup quarter-final against Germany, coach Diego Maradona has saluted Carlos Tevez's decision to sign for City.

The Hand of God briefly became the Voice of Reason before Carlito's move to the Blues, the Sun reveals, quoting Maradona: "Tevez has recharged his batteries.

"I went to Manchester to talk to him when he was an understudy in selection. I told him he had to be playing and now he is doing that."

Still with the Sun, Neil Custis explores the long-standing friendship between Roberto Mancini and new City coach David Platt, while Martin Petrov's move to Bolton is widely reported. We here at WTPS Towers wish you every success, Martin.