Ahmad Benali believes he was born to play for City - but the young striker knows it will take more than just belief to fulfil his dream of a place in the Premier League.

The Academy graduate knocked in 18 goals last season and is now preparing himself for the tough task of forcing his way into Roberto Mancini's first-team squad.

He said: "I was born just round the corner from Platt Lane, a five-minute walk from our old ground Maine Road and I've been at the club for 10 years now. I've seen a lot of changes in that time!

"It's unbelievable the way that the club has grown. Now we sign world-class players that nobody would have expected us to get only a short while ago –it’s fantastic to be part of something like this.

I'm very impressed that the club has an Arabic and American website, too. It's another sign of how much we have come on and are expanding globally

...Ahmad Benali

"My dad Fahim is from Benghazi in Libya - he's a businessman who gets involved in businesses that aren't doing too well and then turns them around and builds them up.”

Ahmad, who has figured prominently in the Elite Development squad's pre-season fixtures, said: "This season I'm going to take it as it comes, play my football and see how well I can do for the Elite Development team.

"Then if I get my chance, I have to be ready to take it. If the club thought that me going out on loan for a spell would be a good idea, then I would be happy to do that, too, in order to broaden my experience."