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Pablo Zabaleta admits it has been a 'dream' to spend nine seasons at Manchester City - after making the heartbreaking decision to leave the club.

The 32-year-old is one of six veterans whose contracts are up at the Etihad at the end of the season along with Yaya Toure, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas and Willy Caballero.

Zabaleta is the first of City's free agents to confirm that he will be leaving the club after six trophies, 327 appearances and 11 goals to date.

And the Argentine can hardly believe how quickly time has flown since his £6.5m move from Espanyol in 2008.

"It’s been a wonderful nine years," he said.

"To be honest when I first came to Manchester I never thought it would be that long. I said to my girlfriend, my now wife, at that time, 'Come on let’s go to Manchester for three or four years then we’ll come back to Spain'.

"And it’s been nine years!

"As a player, as a football fan, the Premier League was a dream to come and have the opportunity to play in.

"Manchester City gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and when I came to Manchester it was a different club in a different era. But after nine years, look where we are. I’m still part of this football club and this is something that makes me very proud.”

City fans will have the chance to say goodbye to Zabaleta in his final appearance at the Etihad against West Brom on Tuesday night.

And, having always played with his heart on his sleeve, the fans' favourite admits it will be a poignant occasion.

“It will be an emotional moment for me," he said.

"It will probably be my last game in a City shirt in front of the fans. The appreciation from the fans has been massive. I would like to say thank you to them for the love and support they have shown me during my nine years at the club.

"As a player I’ve done what every single player should do for the club they play for which is try to perform well on the field every time, give my all for the team, for the club and this is something that fans really appreciate from players. That’s why it will be a very emotional moment.

"It’s something that I’m prepared for and I will try to enjoy like a kid of 10-years-old!”

Zabaleta joined City on the day before Sheikh Mansour completed his historic takeover of the club back in 2008.

Alongside skipper Vincent Kompany, the 32-year-old is the only survivor from those early days - and a lot has changed since then.

"When I first came to Manchester I felt like when I was in Barcelona at Espanyol; we were not the main club in the city," he said.

"We can’t say the same thing now. I remember at that time [Sir Alex] Ferguson and the “noisy neighbours” and this is something that I have been since that time!

"For me, we couldn’t let people say something like that about us. I thought if they call us the noisy neighbours then let’s make more noise in the city, let’s prove that we are a club that is looking to achieve important things, maybe one day be the main club in the city and take this club forward to the next step to make this club better.

"As a player you are happy to play games on the field and this is something you enjoy the most, but if you really care about the club you feel something inside of you that you want to create something big and that was one of the main things for me.

"We had to work really hard to become a better club and look at where we are today! I am very happy and proud to have been part of this football club.”