Even as new signing Mario Balotelli was being presented by Manchester City on Tuesday, the Premier League's big spenders were finalizing the addition of James Milner that will take their outlay since last season beyond $180 million.
City hopes such lavish spending will end a 35-year title drought but it was described as ''kamikaze'' by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who is investing far smaller sums in emerging talent.
City's spending since being bought by a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family two years ago has forced out some players.
Craig Bellamy had to go out on loan to Cardiff on Tuesday because there was no space for the striker in City's 25-man Premier League squad under manager Roberto Mancini.
Balotelli, one of Bellamy's replacements up front, arrives at City with a similar stormy reputation as the Wales striker.
The Italy forward had a fiery relationship with Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho last season, but still declared after joining City on a five-year deal last week that he would have preferred to stay in Italy.
''I am no bad boy - that's what they say in Italy,'' Balotelli said Tuesday. ''But I am just a normal guy, not particularly bad or good, just a normal guy, so I don't see what the fuss is all about ...
''I was sorry to leave my family and friends behind in Italy, but not for professional reasons.''
Mancini, Mourinho's predecessor at Inter, believes being reunited with Balotelli will help him make a fresh start in England.
''All of us were said to be bad boys when we are young, but I have worked with Mario before and he is a normal person,'' Mancini said. ''Mario has everything to become a fantastic player for the future because he is young, he has a good technique. He is strong in the air, goes quickly, he has everything to become one of the best players in the world in the future.''
Balotelli could make his debut on Thursday in City's Europa League playoff against Romanian side Timisoara, but Milner may not play until Monday's Premier League match with Liverpool.
Mancini expects the England midfielder to complete his move from Aston Villa by Wednesday, with Stephen Ireland set to move in the opposite direction.
Goalkeeper Shay Given could also be on the way out after Joe Hart was selected to start Saturday's league opener against Tottenham and then produced several outstanding saves in the 0-0 draw.
''I hope (Given) will stay with us because we are in four competitions,'' Mancini said. ''But I respect his wishes if he wants to leave.''
City has not won a major honor since the 1976 League Cup and is chasing its first league title since ending Manchester United's decades of dominance in 1968.
United has won three of the last four Premier League titles despite meager spending in the transfer market compared to its neighbor.
''Over the last two or three years, we have seen very wealthy owners become part of football clubs and therefore go on this kamikaze effort to spend their money,'' Ferguson said. ''It is amazing the amounts of money that are being bandied about in the present-day game.
''Some people may think it could be dangerous. But if they have that kind of money, they are certainly using it. I don't see it abating. The kind of spending we are seeing at the moment will be here for two or three years, until such time as they understand you can't necessarily achieve all the time by spending.''
