And when Newcastle raked in the cash for him I don't think there were any tears on Tyneside.
Is he good enough to get a place in Roberto Mancini's star-studded Manchester City team this season?
James Milner: "It's a big season for me.
"You come to a new club and it takes time to find your bearings.
"But now I want to get a foothold in the team and prove to people that I'm good enough to be here and in the team regularly.
"Winning silverware is the only reason why I came here. We did that last season and that showed it was the right move for me. At the end of your career you look back and you want to see a trophy cabinet full of winners' medals.
"You want to be able to tell people, 'I've won this, this and this'. That's what drives me on. That's what I feel I can achieve at this club. I want to be the best player I can and win trophies.'
"It is tough to get in the team but that's what happens when you're at a top club like this. You want to be pushed as a player, you want to improve.
"When you have two or three top-class players in each position it's good for everyone. It is good for the club, the manager and the players because it really challenges you.
"It will make me a better player watching these guys play and train. You know you have to play well and train well if you're going to get a shirt on the Saturday.
"You hear positive and negative things said about you , but we'll get on with our job. We know we have to improve as a club and a team but we think we can carry on moving forward.
"You look to improve every year and we did that last year. Now we'll be looking to do that again. Finishing third was a very good season for us and also winning the FA Cup.
"But now we'll be looking to top that, so a natural progression would be to finish second and really push hard for the title. We think it could be a possibility."
Offer To NU-Mad Fans Continues
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FOREWORD BY FAIRS CUP HERO JOHN McNAMEE
MAGPIES IN EUROPE
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