Jack Grealish was close to joining Manchester United in 2020, a year before he joined City.
The England international, 26, who faces his former club Villa for the first time on Wednesday following his move to the City Stadium, attracted interest from a number of topflight sides after impressing in the Villa first-team since making his debut in May 2014).
He scored 14 goals in 62 appearances for the club after they returned to the top-flight after a three-year absence.
During the summer transfer window last year, Grealish was a target for Manchester United, but he chose to stay at Villa Park and sign a new long-term contract.
He told the Daily Telegraph that he was close to going but nothing happened.
Grealish played a key role in the Three Lions' run to the final of Euro 2020 and has 18 caps for England.
I wasn't supposed to play in the cup game at Burton because we played United in a pre-season game on Saturday.
"After the United game, I told Christian Purslow and my agent that if I'm not leaving, I'll sign my new contract."
I signed the deal with my dog on Tuesday morning and played later that day. It's a win-win because if any team hit that, I've had an unbelievable season and Villa got £100 million.
Grealish, who joined City for a club-record fee, has admitted to finding it harder than he thought.
Sky Sports will show the game between the sides on Saturday after the Villa clash.
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Jack Grealish joined Manchester City for a British-record £100m transfer in the summer, and his manager says he needs to reach his best level this season.
Grealish has to deliver his best for City this season.
Grealish must produce his best in the remainder of the season, but he has been praised by the way he has settled in at Manchester City.
Grealish and Phil Foden will be assessed ahead of the trip to Villa while Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte are not.
When asked if it would take until next season for Grealish to perform at his best, he said: "I don't think so!" We have to see it right away. We have a long way to go.
I don't think the best of Jack Grealish will be seen next season. I would like to see it this season.
Grealish's initial impact at the stadium is what makes him happy.
He settled perfectly. He knows many English players and the other guys are too nice, so it's easy.
He plays good, he has to finish to settle, and find a real apartment to live in. You need a little time.
He played bad if you analyse the games. Absolutely not. It is difficult to play bad with the quality he has. The way we played and the expectations every few days... It is completely different to what he is used to. He did it well there.
He could leave the club to stay in the second division and then stay in the first division. The second season in the first division was amazing.
"Now he comes back from the international break injured and hopefully come back step by step to his best form."
