Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher has said the sale of his beloved Manchester City FC has finally repaid his 40-year loyalty to the club.

The singer approves of the deal, which will see the club taken over by an Abu Dhabi-based company.

It is currently in the hands of former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Gallagher, whose group is currently touring Canada, heard about the sale via urgent texts from friends in the UK.

He told BBC Radio Five: "They were telling me to put on the news, we've been bought by some Arab prince.

"I was laughing at first, thinking 'I can't quite believe it', and just before we went on stage I found out we've signed Robinho."

Gallagher, who was raised in Burnage, Manchester, said: "I can't see any downside to this to be honest."

He also offered the services of his band, whose string of hits includes the song Wonderwall.

He said: "I'm available for any after-show parties they want me to play at if they're throwing that kind of money around.

"I always kind of knew that 40 years of loyalty would be repaid somehow and I always knew that a day would come when we stagger everyone in football. But I've got to say I didn't think it would be like this."

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