Eliaquim Mangala has told L'Equipe he does not believe he made a mistake when making his world record move to Manchester City -- despite struggling to establish himself in the Premier League.
Mangala, 24, moved to City in a €53.8 million move from Porto just over a year ago in what was the biggest fee ever paid for a defender.
The France's international's switch turned a little sour in north-west England as he found it impossible to hold down a regular place in the starting lineup, making 24 Premier League starts under Manuel Pellegrini last season.
Despite struggling to shine during his maiden campaign in England, the centre-back does not want to turn the clock back 12 months and make a different decision.
"Not at all. Not at any time," he said. "Actually, I said to myself that I had made the right choice. I know where I am, I know what I want. In a career, you always have times that are a little more difficult, but the most important thing is to come through them.
"I had the same problems during my first season as a professional. I had a dip in form, I wasn't playing. Then, when I arrived in Portugal [with Porto], it was a similar situation. I only played 15 games, I wanted to leave in January.
"Now, I can put things in perspective. The first year is always a little bit complicated."
Mangala was named one of the biggest flops of the season by the Daily Mail, and he added: "Of course it hurts your pride, because no-one likes to hear those sorts of remarks.
"When you're a player that has just arrived in a team that has won the league, when there are new recruits and the performances don't come...but it doesn't worry me. Those sorts of articles motivate you. I'm not at all worried about that."
The massive transfer fee ensured Mangala would be in the spotlight from day one at City, but the former Standard Liege man insisted the tag of being the world's most expensive defender had not weighed heavy on him.
"Of course it brings with it attention. People focus on the transfer fee. I don't think it's a ball and chain, but of course you're looked at differently in terms of your performances. But I live happily with that," Mangala explained.
"It was a good season of adaptation, because the first three months were difficult physically. Whether you play against the leader or the bottom team in the Premier League, the intensity is the same. I was surprised by that competitiveness. Now I know how the league is, I know my team, how things work and how we work. That will be the platform for the future."