WHEN Juan Pablo Angel was beginning his first full season at Villa in 2001, Manchester City were not even a Premier League club.

Months afer the Columbian arrived in England, City were relegated from the Premier League and the re-building process began.

The £9.5 million that Villa splashed out to make him their record signing was also a huge sum of money at that time.

Now ten years on, times have rapidly changed.

The two clubs are miles apart, and Angel’s transfer fee is a mere fraction of the figures that are paid out nowadays.

Watching from the other side of the globe, the Chivas USA striker has been impressed with what City have become.

But he still finds it hard to believe how quickly they have transformed from division-hopping hopefuls to top-flight title contenders.

“No, they were not even in the Premier League when I arrived,” Angel recalls.

“But that’s what money does now.

“Their resources are incredible and that allows them to go and buy better players and have a good manager and create and build a big infrastructure.

“Normally that gives you the chance to compete for the top spaces.

“Having said that, though, it’s not necessarily going to give you all the success that you want because you have teams out there in the world that are well established and have good quality players who can keep doing it on a regular basis.