Man City will be kings of European football by 2013: De Jong

London - Dutch striker Nigel de Jong believes that Manchester City will complete an amazing transformation by next year, and push Barcelona out to be the kings of European football.

Whether De Jong, 27, will still be around at the Etihad to see the next stage of their incredible journey remains to be seen, The Sun reports.

Talks over a new contract have stalled and the former Hamburg man could be sold this summer, unless a compromise can be reached.

What is for sure is that De Jong has played a key role in taking City from Premier League also-rans to a club competing for all the top prizes.

And he would never have believed that was possible when he walked through the door as an 18-million-pound new boy back in January 2009.

The Holland international said: "When I first arrived it was complete chaos if I'm being honest. I was thinking 'What am I doing at this place?'

"There was a lot of work to be done on and off the pitch. Back then nobody would have given this club a chance of winning anything.

"But in the space of six or 12 months everything changed — right around the club.

"This is just the beginning. I'm positive this club will go from strength to strength and that's why big players are still coming in,” he said.