The 32 million pound word

I have been a Manchester City fan since I was 8. That's 41 years.

When I was 8, being a Manchester City fan was a fine thing to be. Within the space of a very few seasons we won the First Division Championship (the forerunner of the current Premiership), the FA Cup, the European Cup Winners Cup and, a few years later, the League Cup.

We'd regularly thrash United, Liverpool, Leeds, Spurs and all other comers of the time.

Then hard times came. Season after season saw City struggling in and out of the second division, or the Championship as it is now. We lost our way, and became amiable also-rans in a world of Premiership stars and Champions League ambitions.

Then last week, the Abu Dhabi royal family basically bought the club. Their cheery looking 'executive' director set about, within hours, breaking the British transfer record by signing from Real Madrid the Brazilian Robinho, generally considered one of the most exciting players on earth.

Is he worth the money? Can he possibly be worth the money? On the pitch? Of course not! Not to us, not right now.

But off the pitch? Worth every penny.

It's the word Robinho that's worth the money. The single word says "Watch this space", "We are world class", "We are serious", "We're determined to win things'.

If you're in Asia, where your supporter dollar is being fought for even more fervently than elsewhere, it says "We are worthy of being the club you commit to now, and support with your heart, soul and cash for the rest of your life, passing your affiliation on to your kids and they to theirs."

£32 million? For a player like Robinho it's a lot. But for a word like 'Robinho' it's a bargain.