City's new Arab overlord will build his Eastlands legacy from the bottom up

City will officially become therichest football club in the world when Thaksin Shinawatra finally sells to Sheik Mansour bin Zayedal Nayhan of Abu Dhabi.

Thaksin has confirmed that Sheik Mansour and his ADUG consortium have completed due diligence and that a £200m buy-out will be on Tuesday.

New Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (far right), executive chairman Garry Cook (second right) and former owner Thaksin Shinawatra (left) during the 6-0 win over Portsmouth

With his first public words on thetakeover, the sheik has reassured Hughes that his own position is safe and that he is not under pressure to cram the team with world superstars.

‘We want to bring in the best players in the world,’ he said.

‘We also want to see the academy continue to develop talent and give Mark Hughes the chance to bring home-grown players into the team.

'We are building a structure for the future, not just a team of all-stars.’

Announcing the appointment of Middle East businessman Khaldoon Al Mubarak as City’s new chairman, the sheik added: ‘Khaldoon and I . . . really now need to sit down with the manager, executive chairman and key staff and put together plans that will, over time, get the club to where we want it to be.

'We also want to make it clear that Mark Hughes is absolutely integral to our plans.

‘We are ambitious for the club, but not unreasonably so and we understand it takes time to build a team capable of sustaining a presence in the top four of the Premier League and winning European honours.'

Khaldoon, as chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, is responsible for the Emirate’s first Formula One Grand Prix next year.

He was in the stands as City beat Portsmouth 6-0  and has already impressed senior club staff by his manner over the three days he has spent at the stadium and training ground.

Thaksin bought City in the summer of 2007 but decided to sell after financial difficulties.

He said: ‘My financial position has changed in the last 15 months and I thus felt it was in the best interests of everyone associated with the club that I hand over the reins to new owners who share similar ambitions and visions to my own for Manchester City.’

Thaksin, who will keep a 10 percent stake in the club, has been afforded the title of honorary president.