Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria says he'll put ties with his Manchester City countrymen aside when the two squads meet this weekend.
The United winger will face a few fellow Argentines, including Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta, when they play City on Sunday in the Manchester derby.
Di Maria has also dismissed suggestions that he rejected a move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer and insisted he never had any hesitation in signing for the Old Trafford club.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain were heavily linked with a move for Di Maria throughout last summer, but he eventually sealed a British record 59.7 million pound move from Real Madrid to United and he has stressed he was eager to move to Manchester when the offer came his way.
"There was never any contact anywhere else," Di Maria told reporters at a Premier League Kicks promotional event. "The people who came with all the paperwork, signed and ready, showing real eagerness to sign me were United. As soon as I heard of their interest, there was no question of me going anywhere else.
"As a player, you're always going to go somewhere if the club really want to sign you and show [they are] willing by putting that amount of money on the table.
"I think the figure was 75 million euro. It would be hard for any club to turn that down, even Real Madrid. I felt from the word go that I was going somewhere where I'd be really loved. I'm not saying that I wasn't loved in Madrid, but that kind of interest that Manchester United showed is hard to turn down."
Di Maria was speaking at an event organised by the community departments of Manchester United and Manchester City, with City defender Zabaleta also in attendance shortly before this weekend's derby game between the Manchester giants.
Argentina teammates Di Maria and Zabaleta spoke warmly about each other, but the United winger insisted that warmness will come to an end at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
"When we see each other in the tunnel before games, I think it's right to say 'hi' and greet each other, whether it's an ex-teammate or a good friend," suggested Di María. "That's normal, as long as you remember that you fight for the club and the shirt once the 90 minutes start. There are no friendships on the pitch.
"Once you're on the field, you forget all that. Everyone, no matter which side you are on, is fighting for the shirt. You are defending the pride of your colours."
Zabaleta went on to speak about the growing collection of Argentine players plying their trade in Manchester, with the United duo of Di Maria and Marcos Rojo joining City's Zabaleta and Aguero in the Premier League hot-bed.
"I was so happy when he signed for United because he was really excited to come here and play in the Premier League," said Zabaleta of his compatriot Di Maria. "When I see him happy, I will be happy as well -- off the field of course.
"He's been busy so it has been difficult to meet since he arrived. He lives in Prestbury, I live in Alderley Edge, just five minutes away. Marcos lives in Hale, a little bit far from where we are. Kun has moved to Hale now.
"When everything is settled we will all get together. We're Argentinians, we like to meet each other, to do barbecues. I'm thinking now of opening an Argentinian restaurant."
Zabaleta believes the high profile derby match with United is just what City need after a week that has seen them lose to West Ham in the Premier League and tumble out of the Capital One Cup after a surprise home defeat against Newcastle.
"I think it is the best game we can have now," he added. "That is a special game, it is a game that is special for the fans. It is a game everyone is looking at and waiting for.
"We know this week it has been a bit frustrating for our team because we didn't play well enough to win the games. This is something a little bit strange in the team, because we know we have a strong squad and great players to do much better than we have done in the last three games."