City captain deal Dunne and dusted
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 04 July 2008
Mark Hughes has made perhaps the most significant signing of his fledgling Manchester City career by persuading captain Richard Dunne to put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
The 28-year-old’s future at the club appeared to be hanging in the balance due to the lack of progress over contract negotiations and the exit of Sven Goran Eriksson earlier in the summer.
Dunne had been linked strongly with Portsmouth after Harry Redknapp revealed his admiration for the former Everton centre back, and the names of Tottenham and Newcastle had also been thrown into the mix as talks over a new contract appeared to be going nowhere.
Hughes’ arrival and subsequent discussions with the Republic of Ireland international have made up his mind however, and Dunne has committed himself to the club until the summer of 2012, saying he never wanted to leave the club he joined in 2000.
“I’m delighted with it,” Dunne told the club’s official website upon the completion of his new deal.
“My first priority is, was and always has been to stay at City because I’ve enjoyed it so much and I feel really settled here.
“When Mark Hughes got the job I think everyone was really pleased and I was thrilled that he seemed to make it a priority to sort my contract out. I’m delighted to be able to stay.”
City boss Hughes added: "I'm delighted with the outcome and Richard is a really important player for us.
“It was one of my priorities when I took the job that I made sure that he was one of the players we needed to keep."
Dunne explained that he wasted little time in thinking over signing his new agreement once Hughes arrived and spoke to him.
“As soon as he did we started to talk. It was literally a couple of days and it was all done and dusted,” added Dunne.
“I’m pleased now that it’s all been signed and sealed and I can relax a bit more now and concentrate on the season ahead.”